The Orientation and Mobility Instructor is responsible for the part of the educational process that prepares the student with visual impairment to travel safely and independently in their homes, school, and community environments. The Orientation and Mobility Instructor travels to the home or assigned school to provide direct or indirect service to students from birth to 21. These students may have only a visual impairment or other multiple impairments, and the cognitive levels of these students range from severely impaired to gifted and talented. Community-based instruction is a critical component of the program.   

 

Perform orientation and mobility assessment that focus on long and short term travel needs of students with visual impairment;

Interpret eye medical reports, as they relate to the student's movement throughout his environment, to the IFSP/IEP teams;

Provide regular consultation and support to parents, classroom teachers, other school personnel, and student's sighted peers. Provide strategies for the student's safe, independent movement;

Work with the Teacher of the Visually Impaired to conduct the functional vision assessment as it relates to independent travel;

Work as a liaison with other agencies and the eye medical profession;

Instruct students with visual impairment to travel with proficiency, safety, and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments;

Prepare materials and use equipment during instruction, such as tactile maps, models, distance low vision devices, adaptive mobility devices, and long canes for the development of orientation and mobility skills;

Provide direct instruction as needed in the unique orientation and mobility curriculum such as, concept development, visual efficiency skills, pre-cane skills, cane skills, map skills, and travel outdoors in residential, semi-business, and business locations;

Emphasize social integration with peers and community personnel by providing opportunities for interaction; and

Provide administrative and record keeping duties such as IFSP/IEP documents and data collection, distribute resources to school and families, and communicate with low vision specialist, ophthalmologists, and optometrists concerning exams.

 

 

 

Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with school teams and parents;

Ability to act in an itinerant capacity;

Must drive from one location to the next for lessons;

Demonstrate knowledge of the orientation and mobility field, including eye medical implications, instructional strategies, compensatory skills (especially long cane travel), technological travel aides, and access to the community metro bus and subway systems;

Demonstrate effective oral communication and written skills;

Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with diverse populations;

Demonstrate the ability to provide differentiated instructional techniques that inspire, motivate, and meet the individual educational needs of each student;

Demonstrate the ability to work alone, making judgments and decisions; and

Demonstrate an interest in professional growth and development.

 

 

 

Bachelor's degree (preferred Master's) in Orientation and Mobility from a regionally accredited college or university program and Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) certified; Bachelor's Degree (preferred master's) in any field from a regionally accredited college or university program; or a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a Dual Certification university program as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor and Teacher of the Visually Impaired preferred and experience in orientation and mobility instruction.

 

 

 

Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) certified.

 

 

No direct supervisory responsibilities.



The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
  The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The Orientation and Mobility Instructors drive from one location to the next for lessons. Ability to stand and walk frequently, for lengthy periods of time, and on a variety of terrains - with some opportunity to sit during a standard workday. Ability to bend, squat, kneel, and work on the floor. Ability to be fully aware of environmental stimuli while allowing for appropriate reactions within a reasonable length of time and insuring student safety. Ability to physically handle and assist other persons in the performance of daily living activities.   



Other
  The Orientation and Mobility Instructors provide their service in a variety of settings and locations depending upon the location of the student and the students' safe travel needs documented on the IFSP/IEP. These can include the home, school, or locations throughout the community. The lessons are generally one to one instruction.   



None.