CERTIFIED ORIENTATION & MOBILITY SPECIALIST

Full-time Position (Lee County, Florida) 38 hours

Lighthouse of Southwest Florida – 35 W. Mariana Ave., North Ft. Myers, FL 33903

General Responsibilities:

• Organizing, planning & direct provision of orientation and mobility services to blind and visually impaired persons. Coordinate and/or carry out special projects or programs as assigned by the Program Services Coordinator.

Essential Duties:

• Assess orientation and mobility skills of clients and develop a plan to meet their needs for safe orientation and mobility in their home and travel area

Essential Functions:

• Develop and carry out a program of individualized instruction to include pre-cane skills, cane skills, indoor travel, street-crossing, use of public transportation, and travel in a business district.
• Make observations and prepare evaluations of clients’ progress. Maintain appropriate records for submission to Program Services Coordinator on a monthly basis.
• Cooperate and consult with staff and appropriate community resources, on behalf of the client, in an effort to include orientation and mobility training with other Lighthouse services.
• Maintain accurate records of all orientation and mobility inventory and the purchase of such.
• Maintain a working knowledge of local & national resources and of significant trends in the field of blind rehabilitation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience:

• MA degree in orientation and mobility training or related field preferred
• Experience in the field of orientation and mobility
• Computer Skills (Microsoft Office, Excel, Word)

Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Knowledge of implications of blindness and other disabilities
• Ability to use good judgment and have an empathetic understanding of clients
• Capable of working with a variety of personalities and leadership styles
• Possess initiative and ability to work independently
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive matters
• Professional maturity and judgment
• Ability to work as an effective team member

Certificates, Licensures, Registrations:

• Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (ACVREP Certification) required
• Must maintain professional accreditations, licensing and/or continued education as required.

Requirements:

• Pass background screening including Level II fingerprinting, FDLE background check, and drug screening.  Clean Motor Vehicle Report.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands, and is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, sit, and walk.  The employee may occasionally be required to reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Medium work. Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary and light work.
• This position will occasionally require the employee to be outside and this may result in the employee being exposed to inclement weather, heat, and other related environmental conditions to provide proper service to the clients.
• The physical demands described here 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.

Work Environment:

• Moderate noise level.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.