Job Summary:  Lead and provide Vision Rehabilitation services to clients from kindergarten to the end of high school, including assessment and instruction based on the established individualized goals and professional standards, resulting in acceptable levels of measurable progress. Lead, manage, and hold all assigned staff accountable for the delivery of high-quality services to participants and their families. Provide clients, parents and/or guardians the resource education and skills training to be positive advocates.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Actively support Lighthouse Central Florida’s mission, vision, and core values in daily interactions with clients, staff, and all external and internal constituencies
• Actively participate in agency and team meetings to ensure effective communication, service quality, and teamwork

Direct Service:

• Conduct functional assessments to establish, in consultation with parent(s) or guardian (s), Individual Service Plans inclusive of annual goals and short-term benchmarks
• Provide home, community, and center-based instruction as appropriate to the needs of the client (services tend to take place in the evenings and on weekends, due to clients being in school)

• Provide guidance and support to families to develop their understanding of and ability to positively address the impacts of their family member’s abilities, leading to optimal outcomes and positive self-advocacy

• Complete required reports to document the client’s progress, including assessments, Plans of Service, daily Interaction logs, and case closure
• Participate as a member of the youth (CP/TR) team and support all aspects of Program Services

Supervision:

• Provide supervision for all Youth (CP/TR) team members.  This includes but is not limited to developing accurate work plans for assigned staff, approving leave requests and timesheets
• Ensure staff are entering required documentation into the database
• Lead in Youth (CP/TR) meetings
• Assist with data collection and synthesis to support successful responses to youth (CP/TR) contract and grant requirements
• Coordinate the implementation of service plans and curricula with other members of the team

Planning and Service Development:

• Assist in the development of Youth (CP/TR) curricula based on established professional standards
• Stay current with new developments in the field and recommend appropriate new and revised program initiatives to the team and supervisor

Community Education:

• Collaborate with local school districts as a member of the child’s IEP team when invited to do so

• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

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/or Certification:

A minimum of one certification is preferred:

• TSVI (Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments)
• ACVREP O&M (Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist)
• ACVREP CVRT (Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist)
• ACVREP CATIS (Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist)
• Must also complete the following upon hire:
  • Recreational Safety Supports: CPR – First Aid

Experience:  Minimum of one year teaching Youth with vision impairment or blindness required. Professional experience working with children with developmental disabilities in addition to visual impairments is preferred.

Demonstrated Knowledge and Skills:

• Functional understanding of Expanded Core Curriculum, EI Best Practice Standards, and any related accreditation standards determined appropriate to the program
• Possess a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Possess effective organizational and time management skills with attention to detail
• Ability to project a positive, compassionate image to clients, co-workers and the public

Physical Demands:

• Ability to move about independently
• Moderate ability to move and lift items, usually ranging up to 40 lbs
• Strength to physically assist visually impaired and multiply-impaired children
• Climbing stairs, walking
• 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
• Prolonged standing upon occasion
• Prolonged sitting at work station