POSITION SUMMARY:
The
Teacher of the Visually Impaired travels to the students’ home, community
environment or assigned schools to provide direct and/or indirect special
education services relating to vision loss.
These services are provided for students ranging in age from birth to
21, and may have only a visual impairment or additional disabilities. The cognitive levels of the students range
from severely impaired to gifted and talented.
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Assess
and evaluate students who have eye medical documentation indicating a possible
visual impairment;
Interpret
eye medical reports as they relate to educational environments to the IFSP/IEP
teams;
Consult
with medical professional, classroom teachers, staff, students and parents
concerning appropriate evaluations, modifications, test administration and
instructional strategies;
Work
as a liaison with other agencies in the vocational assessment;
Participate
in team assessments;
Assist
in determining and procuring classroom equipment and materials necessary for
the students with visual impairments to access the curriculum and to
learn. Provide these modified materials to
the student;
Provide
the classroom teacher, school staff, and parent with information regarding the
specialized instructional strategies needed for a student with visual
impairments;
Monitor
the student’s progress in academic subjects and provide instruction in
compensatory skills as needed as a direct result of the student’s visual
impairment;
Provide
direct instruction in the unique curriculum for students with visual impairment
such as Braille, cane travel, low vision aids, visual efficiency, listening
skills, adaptive devices (i.e. Braille note takers), concept development,
social skills, career readiness, self-advocacy, and recreational skills;
Work
collaboratively with school teams and provide support services to them and the
families; 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 specialists, ophthalmologists,
and optometrists concerning exams.
QUALIFICATIONS:The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Demonstrate
the ability to collaborate effectively with school teams and parents;
Ability
to act as an Itinerant Teacher of the Visually Impaired;
Must
have access to transportation to deliver Vision services to a variety of
different locations;
Demonstrate
knowledge of the vision field including eye medical implications, instructional
strategies and compensatory skills (especially Braille), current technological
and instructional advances;
Demonstrate
effective oral communication and written skills;
Demonstrate
an ability to work effectively with diverse student populations;
Demonstrate
the ability to provide differentiated instructional techniques that inspire,
motivate, and meet the individual educational needs of each student; and
Demonstrate
an interest in professional growth and development.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s
degree (Master’s preferred) in an applicable field of education with a
minor/major in Visual Impairment from an accredited college or university
program. Experience in teaching students with visual impairment from birth to
21.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Hold
or is eligible for a Maryland Professional Certificate appropriate for
assignment. Eligibility for Maryland State Department of Education teaching
certification, and Teacher of the Visually Impaired.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
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.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
None.