Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Orientation and Mobility Specialist - Special Education

Kent ISD

Full time, 182 days per year

KIEA Professional

2026-2027 School Year - August start

Broad Statement of Responsibilities:

The O&M specialist provides special education services to enable students with visual impairments to travel safely, efficiently, and independently in their home, school, and community environments. The students range in age from birth through 26 years.

Job Qualifications Required:

1. Bachelor's and/or master's degree in Orientation and Mobility from an Association for Education and Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) accredited university or college.
2. Valid Orientation & Mobility Specialist Certificate (COMS) from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).
3. Knowledge of Federal IDEA regulations and State special education law and compliance procedures.
4. Knowledge and expertise in the area of IEP process and procedures.
5. Ability to teach tactile maps.
6. Ability to teach techniques to train eccentric viewing and utilization of appropriate low vision devices necessary for orientation or travel.
7. Ability to assist students in understanding their impact of vision and how to make safe travel decisions.
8. Ability to maintain confidentiality, meet deadlines and schedules
9. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff and the general public.
10. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exits. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
11. Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program. Ability to plan and implement lessons based on assessment and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned.
12. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community and function as a positive, contributing member of an educational team.
13. Ability to speak clearly and concisely in written and oral communication.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Participate as a member of the multidisciplinary team for the purpose of meeting the orientation and mobility needs of children and students ages 0-26.
2. Perform orientation and mobility evaluations that focus on long- and short-term needs of the student for new referrals and re-evaluations.
3. Provide and document training of the remaining senses, including the functions of the auditory, tactual, olfactory and kinesthetic senses, in addition to visualization and/or special relationships, or optimum orientation within any environment.
4. Provide and document training in the use of basic human guide techniques, and/or the long cane, where applicable, both indoors and outdoors in familiar and unfamiliar environments.
5. Provide and document orientation and familiarization to school settings and surrounding grounds.
6. Provide and document training and experience of traveling in residential, home, business, downtown and/or rural areas, including use of public transportation.
7. Provide and document training in the optimum use of residual vision.
8. Provide and document teaching of concepts through the use of and incorporating other sensory modalities.
9. Provide training and assessment in the use of low vision, non-optical, electronic, and travel aids or devices.
10. Consult with experts in medical and other professional fields to determine capabilities, limitations, adaptations, and modifications necessary and appropriate to the educational placement and programming of the student.
11. Provide consultation and support services to parents, educators, classroom teachers, and other school personnel to assist in home and classroom modifications to ensure reinforcement of appropriate O&M skills to encourage the student to travel independently.
12. All other duties assigned

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the School Board may be considered. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits: Robust benefit package includes full medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid sick and personal days; State of Michigan School Employment retirement program

Salary: Per KIEA salary schedule; commensurate with education and experience.

Steps 1-3:

BA = $54,386-$59,917

BA+18 = $58,254-$62,690

MA = $61,581-$66,575

MA+15 = $64,357-$69,910

MA+MA/MA+30 = $67,130-$72,678

The final candidate for this position will be required (at their cost) to furnish Kent Intermediate School District with a current Michigan State Police and FBI criminal records LiveScan check prior to our recommendation to hire.

It is the policy of the Kent ISD School Board that no student, staff member or candidate for any position in the District shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, ancestry, age, gender/sex, sexual orientation, marital status, height, weight, veteran status, political belief or physical/mental disability which does not impair their ability to perform adequately in the individual's particular position or activity, excluded from participation in, denied the benefit of, or to be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity for which the Kent ISD School Board is responsible for or receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. The Coordinator for Title IX, Section 504, the Age Discrimination Act and Title II is: Dave Rodgers, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources