Vision Rehabilitation Specialist Senior / Traveling

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior Itinerant The Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior Itinerant analyzes and assesses the adaptive skills of customers with Blindness, Deaf‑Blindness, and Low Vision for their activities of daily living and employment readiness. As the Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation & Mobility subject‑matter expert, the Specialist applies emerging technologies and training methods to current and future customers and employers, recommends curriculum, and implements training methodologies to accommodate staff in accordance with Section 508 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The position provides intermittent training and support to customers across the state, recruits, evaluates and manages vendors, develops program standards, monitors budgets, and provides adaptive education to businesses, customers, community partners, and employers. Applicants can work from one of many offices located in Washington State: Seattle, Tacoma, Lacey/Olympia, Vancouver, Spokane, and Yakima. Duties Conduct comprehensive, in‑depth assessments of all customers referred for vocational rehabilitation services. Gather detailed information on the customer’s disability, family support, education/work history, motivation to work, adaptive skills, and functional limitations. Assess and measure customer’s adjustment to vision loss and readiness for training; collaborate with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and local VRS to address issues. Recommend and implement solutions, therapies, techniques, and tools to address low vision needs. Analyze anticipated needs for aids and appliances and determine effective, cost‑efficient training delivery. Facilitate the practice of “informed choice” and make formal recommendations in the electronic case management system. Develop comprehensive specialized services and training plans that align with individual goals and program objectives. Coordinate assessment results with the interdisciplinary team and develop plans for overlapping responsibilities. Serve as statewide resource to customers, staff, and community partners. Communicate agency scope, mission, and training expectations to customers. Educate community partners and employers on adaptive tools and techniques for daily living, travel, and communication. Provide statewide and nationwide consultation, presentations, and technical assistance to resource and service providers. Support onboarding, training, and development for lower‑level vision rehabilitation specialist staff. Coordinate statewide vision rehabilitation specialists process review and improvement efforts. Perform comprehensive low vision evaluations, including magnification, lighting, and glare reduction, and recommend solutions. Manage Low Vision Lab, including supplies, inventory, and budget recommendations. Prepare and maintain documentation of training activities in the automated case management system. Coordinate participant Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching needs with the team. Contribute to the development of quality service standards and procedural changes. Evaluate new or upgraded aids, appliances, and technologies. Keep current with developments in the Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching profession. Meet with peer staff quarterly to share new techniques and professional developments. Prepare and deliver one formal peer or team training annually. Mentor and train new staff in adaptive skills assessment, low vision assessments, DSB procedures, and documentation. Qualifications Required Qualifications Option 1: Master’s degree from an accredited institution in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related field, current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program. Option 2: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related field, three (3) years of paid professional experience teaching adaptive skills to the blind, low vision, or deaf‑blind individuals (including one year supervisory experience), current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program. Preferred Qualifications Ability to work independently and autonomously with a high degree of professionalism. Demonstrated superior documentation and quality of work. Union Inclusion This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). EEO Statement The Department of Services for the Blind celebrates our differences and is committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship, marital status, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or disability. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr State of Washington