Orientation and Mobility Specialist (Houston)

Orientation and Mobility Specialist (Houston)

For Texas to be great, we need the best and brightest talent like you! The public vocational rehabilitation (VR) program administered through the Texas Workforce Commission helps people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, retain, and advance in employment. Make a difference and help people with VR. According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 12.6% in 2020. This jobless rate continues to be much higher than the rate for those without disabilities. Public service in VR is for you…

• If you want to find meaningful work and contribute to a powerful mission. For more than 100 years VR has been helping individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals!
• If you are looking for career and advancement opportunities. 38% of employees in VR have 15+ years of seniority. There are various positions with career ladders and opportunities to specialize in areas of interest: Autism, Blind & Visual Impairments, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Brain Injury, Foster Youth, Transition Students, Veterans.
• If you need a comprehensive benefits package that offers competitive pay & benefits from health plans, life insurance, retirement programs, paid leave and holidays, and longevity pay.
• If you have direct VR counseling work experience, receive a higher starting salary.
• If you want to advance your education with our tuition assistance program.
• FREE CEUs to maintain CRC credentials and reimbursement for CRC & LPC renewals.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is seeking to fill an Orientation and Mobility Instructor to join the Gulf Coast Regional Department team. This position is located at 12148-B Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX. TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those currently on student or postgraduate visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas. Benefits to working for TWC include:

• Competitive starting salary: $4,583.33- $5,746.66/month
• Defined Retirement Benefit Plan
• Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts
• Medical Insurance
• Currently, the state pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full-time employees and 50% of the premium for their eligible dependents. Eligible part-time employees get a 50% state contribution for themselves and 25% for their dependents. Employees pay the remainder of the premium by paycheck deduction before taxes are withheld.
• Optional Benefits such as dental, vision, and life insurance
• 8 hours' sick leave per month
• 8 hours' vacation leave per month with potential to earn more with longevity
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services
• Additional benefits for active employees:

The Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Instructor performs routine (entry-level) to highly complex (senior-level) instructional or training work in the Agency's Vocational Rehabilitation field offices. Work involves planning, organizing, and conducting educational and training programs or may coordinate, develop and evaluate educational and instructional teaching for blind or visually impaired customers habilitative or rehabilitative needs. Provides the necessary instruction in teaching self-help or self-care and vocational skills to assist customers in attaining their optimum levels of independent living and vocational goals. Works under moderate to limited supervision, with limited to moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment

General duties:

• Provides individual or group training and instruction in travel skills, areas of emotional adjustment to blindness, independent living skills, communication skills, support systems and vocational training using non-visual and alternative teaching techniques.
• Assists customers in developing, achieving, and maintaining essential independent living and employment objectives.
• Assists with developing (or may develop and maintain) referral sources, completing and maintaining case documentation of teacher services.
• Assists in providing or provides consultative services and technical assistance with other team members in evaluating and developing the customers' individual rehabilitation plan.
• Assists in delivering training or deliver training for non-visual and alternative techniques in group or individual training sessions.
• Responds to customer complaints and documents actions.
• May deliver, install, and set up or troubleshoot functionality of adaptive aids and devices.
• May assist or direct staff or external organizations in conducting specialized casework.
• May review or oversee the evaluation of files to determine, provide, and coordinate vocational rehabilitative services.
• As O&M Instructor IV, may supervise the work of others; may evaluate and analyze long-range training needs and develop training recommendations based on assessment results; may assist in the preparation of budgets for training or educational programs; and may oversee the compilation of data.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Preferred qualifications:

• Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS)
• Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC)

Minimum qualifications:

• TS II: Bachelor's degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four-year college or university; OR Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS) OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC).
• TS III: Bachelor's degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four-year college or university plus one year of full-time experience as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor who provides direct service teaching people who are blind or visually impaired in indoor and outdoor travel using a mobility cane and alternative blindness techniques; OR Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS) plus one year of full-time experience as described above; OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC) plus one year of full-time experience as described above.
• TS IV: Bachelor's degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four-year college or university plus three years of full-time experience as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor who provides direct service teaching people who are blind or visually impaired in indoor and outdoor travel using a mobility cane and alternative blindness techniques; OR Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS) plus three years of full-time experience as described above; OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC) plus three years of full-time experience as described above.

If selected for this position, you must be willing and able to participate in an extended blindfold-immersion training program and must be flexible as working hours may vary. Duty requires up to 75% travel (within the state of Texas) and the ability to lift/carry 10 pounds.