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 seek an Early Intervention (EI) Mentor who provides early intervention services to children with visual impairments, birth through five years, residing in the service area of Lighthouse Central Florida, Inc. This role will participate as a member of the Early Intervention team, support all aspects of Program Service, and maintain the confidentiality of program participants per State and Federal regulations.

Leadership:

• Reflect Lighthouse Central Florida’s mission, vision, and values in daily interactions with clients, staff, and all external and internal constituencies.

Job Requirements:

• Conduct developmental assessments and functional vision evaluations to establish, in consultation with parent(s) or guardian, an Individual Service Plan including immediate and long-term goals
• Provide Early Intervention services to children, birth through five years, including assessment, and instruction based on established individual goals and professional standards
• Provide home, community, and center-based instruction as appropriate to the needs of the child with a primary focus on the child’s natural environment
• Collaborate with other community agencies as a member of the child’s and family’s IFSP team following the Early Steps Program of Florida
• Collaborate with local school districts as a member of the child’s IEP team when invited
• Provide guidance and support to families to develop their understanding of and ability to cope with the impacts of their child’s disability positively, leading to the optimal development of the child and establishing the family as the primary child advocate  
• Coordinate the implementation of service plans and curricula with other members of the interdisciplinary team
• Stay current with new developments in the field and recommend appropriate new and revised program initiatives to the team and supervisor
• Support and assist in collaborative activities with community partners as assigned

Case Management and Reporting

• Complete required reports to document the child’s progress, including assessments, goals, daily and monthly progress reports, and data entry
• Communicate with LCF Client Experience, DBS counselor(s), and other LCF staff as appropriate to expedite each client’s progress through service delivery
• Comply with agency policies and procedures, including completing required documentation and reports (timesheets, etc.)

Community Education:

• 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 
• Act as a liaison with the educational, therapeutic, and medical communities and assist with interpreting functional vision information.
• Assist with training and professional development of colleagues as appropriate to acquire experience and education
• Assist in the development of the Early Intervention Services curricula based on established professional standards

Professional Development:

• Demonstrate an aptitude for learning and teaching new instructional concepts, advancements, and approaches; be willing to modify instructional design when appropriate
• Participate in available continuing education, attend training and conferences on new advancements and approaches in the field, share this information with co-workers, and implement the knowledge, concepts, and skills with clients
• 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   

Language:

• Must be bi-lingual: Spanish preferred

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in special education, visual impairment education, early childhood education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or other related degree required.   
• Relevant Master’s Degree preferred

License and Certification:

A minimum of one certification is required:

• TVI (Teacher of the Visually Impaired)
• ACVREP O&M (Orientation & Mobility)
• INSITE certification and VIISA Certifications (i.e., 0 – 3 & 3 – 5)

Or

• Must complete the following upon hire:
• INSITE certification and VIISA Certifications (i.e., 0 – 3 & 3 – 5)
  • Recreational Safety Supports: CPR – First Aid

Experience:

Minimum of one (1) year experience teaching or working with children, ages birth through five, with a disability preferred.

Demonstrated Knowledge & Skills:

• Ability to adjust, cope and support agency changes in a positive manner

• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Possess a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Skilled in the use of standard business machines and computers
• Possess an ability to utilize the database for client demographics, documentation, and agency reports
• Professional maturity, judgment, and objectivity
• Capable of working with a variety of personalities and leadership styles
• Possess practical organizational and time management skills with attention to detail
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, management, business professionals, civic organizations, and the general public
• Ability to work as an effective member of the team
• Ability to project a positive, compassionate image to the public
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when appropriate
• Flexibility and ability to multi-task

Physical Demands:

• Moderate physical effort required
• Moderate ability to move and lift items, usually ranging up to 40 lbs
• Strength to physically assist visually impaired and multi-handicapped children
• Climbing stairs
• Walking
• Reaching and/or grasping
• Carrying, pushing, and/or pulling
• Stooping, kneeling, bending, and crouching to work with children on the floor
• Ability to actively participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor field trips
• Ability to move about independently 
• Prolonged standing upon occasion
• Prolonged sitting at a workstation

Requirements:

• Maintain required certification and/or license
• Possess reliable transportation
• If using one’s vehicle, hold a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and proof of insurance      
• Pass Level 2 background check

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.