Lighthouse Central Florida is a mission-driven, values-based organization providing an optimal blend of rehabilitation training services and real-world applications to help individuals of all ages, who live with any degree of vision loss to adjust to their reality with grace and confidence so they can remain active, productive members of our community.

We are seeking a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (CVRT) who will provide one-on-one, group, and virtual services to children and youth with vision loss. This role will direct the work of non-credentialed instructors who also teach and coach individuals with low vision and blindness (LVB) in the use of compensatory skills that empower them to live safe, productive, and interdependent lives, including skills of daily living, communication, access technology, braille, pre cane Orientation and Mobility, low vision, adjustment to vision loss, career education, sensory-efficiency, and self-determination.

Instruction may take place in center-based, community-based, and virtual settings depending on the needs/abilities of the clients, as well as any pertinent contractual or grant requirements. This role will plan and implement vision rehabilitation services and complete appropriate documentation of client progress to maximize the fulfillment of all deliverables.

Principal Responsibilities

Service Provision:

• Provide one-on-one community-based, center-based, and virtual instruction to assigned clientsdocument as required.
• Conduct assigned youth and adult ICFAs, Vocational Comprehensive Functional Assessments (VRCFAs), Comprehensive Functional Assessments (CFAs), and other types of assessment (type based on the client's age) as scheduled. Complete full and accurate documentation of each and develop required individualized service plans.
• Make recommendations for additional training, devices, or adaptations (in any skill area) needed to meet individual goals.
• Ensure program quality and staff/student ratios by attending Children's Program and Transition events, including weekends (usually one or two a month), and Summer Programming
• Evaluate and document each client's progress toward individual goals.
• Counsel clients in their adjustment to vision loss.
• Proactively encourage and monitor client attendance.
• Identify and request instructional materials necessary to support the curriculum

Leadership:

• Reflect Lighthouse Central Florida's mission, vision, and core values of servant-leadership, inclusion, collaboration, empowerment, and excellence in daily interactions with clients, staff, and all external and internal constituencies.
• Identify and actively support the appropriate involvement of volunteers in appropriate program functions to extend and enhance team effectiveness and efficiency. Serve as the primary staff contact for volunteers who are assisting with aspects of assigned work
• Provide oversight to assigned clients, role modeling behaviors that support healthy goal development.
• Provide support needed to ensure the achievement of all contract deliverables.

Supervision:

• As an appropriately credentialed professional, provide direction to and signatory approval for the work of non-certified personnel
• Supervise volunteers assigned to work with the Youth Services Team

Planning and Service Development:

• Develop engaging curricula, and implement effective lesson plans and activities to align with LCF's philosophy and achieve all contract deliverables for both one-on-one and group sessions focused on the client's age and skill level
• Work with the Youth Services Manager to plan and develop efficient schedules to optimize time with clients.
• Participate in the development, implementation, evaluation, and refinement of the R360 model, especially as it relates to children's services
• Participate in decision-making to guide the direction of service development.

Case Management and Reporting:

• Communicate with LCF Client Case Coordinators and other staff to expedite each client's movement through service delivery and ensure service deliverables are achieved.
• Enter required documentation into the Apricot database in a timely and accurate manner.
• Assist supervisor with accurate and timely procurement requests.
• Maintain the confidentiality of program participants following State and Federal regulations

Community Education:

• Support and assist in collaborative activities with community partners as assigned.
• Participate in community education and public awareness activities to develop collaboration with other agencies, municipalities, civic organizations, and schools to ensure that vision rehabilitation services are recognized as an essential resource to the community and known to individuals who can benefit from services.

Professional Development:

• Remain professionally active and maintain efforts to learn about new teaching methods, tools, techniques, devices, apps, etc.
• Participate in available continuing education and staff development opportunities, including opportunities to present to professional peers and co-workers.
• Participate in general agency development activities and events as appropriate and necessary.
• Participate in agency and department meetings to ensure communication and teamwork
• Perform other duties as required, including serving adult clients when circumstances require.

Education:

Master's Degree in Visual Disabilities: secondary or special education, rehabilitation counseling, human/social services, or related field. Masters preferred. Consideration will be given to individuals with five or more years of related experience or certifications.

License and Certification:

Current certification or actively pursuing one of the following is required:

CVRT, OT

Additional helpful certifications: COMS, TSVI, CATIS, DBS Access Technology Endorsement

Experience:

A minimum of three years of experience in vision rehabilitation preferred

Demonstrated Knowledge and Skills:

• Proficiency with assistive technology and compensatory skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and web browsers
• Proficient use of the database for client demographics, documentation, and agency reports
• Demonstrate professional maturity, judgment, and objectivity
• Work well with a variety of personalities and leadership styles
• Effective organizational and time management skills with attention to detail
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, management, business professionals, civic organizations, and the general public. Function as an effective member of the team
• Project a positive, compassionate image to clients, families, and the public
• Effectively adapt to and support change
• Maintain confidentiality

Physical Demands:

• Independently navigate the work environment and the LCF service community
• Moderate ability to move and lift items, usually up to 25 lbs.
• Prolonged standing upon occasion
• Prolonged sitting at a workstation
• General good health and energy

Requirements:

Pass Level 2 background checks as required

For employees living with visual impairments, you must provide documentation from a physician of legal blindness. Legal blindness is defined as: "Central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses OR whose visual acuity, if better than 20/200, is accompanied by a limit to the field of vision in the better eye to such a degree that its widest diameter subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees." These conditions are based on the federal Javits-Wagner-O'Day work program for legally blind individuals.

The employment policy of Lighthouse Central Florida and Lighthouse Works is to provide equal opportunity to all persons. Our company, therefore, has committed to equal employment opportunity through a positive and continuing affirmative action program. Lighthouse Central Florida and Lighthouse Works will recruit, hire, train, and promote qualified individuals in all job titles and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, and veteran status, or disability.

All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and primary duties have been included. Requirements, skills, and abilities have been determined to be the minimal standards required to perform the positions successfully. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and conditions may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act may modify requirements to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made that may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or impose undue hardships on the organization.