Instructor Orientation and Mobility (2 positions)

Instructor Orientation And Mobility

Job Title: Instructor Orientation And Mobility FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Grade: PRF 5 Duty Days: 187 Date Revised: 08/17/2026 HC

Funding this position is partially or fully funded through local and/or grant sources. Continued

Source: Employment in grant-funded positions is contingent upon availability of funds.

Minimum Requirements: A Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university is required. A Master's Degree in Special Education or Orientation and Mobility is preferred. A valid Texas teaching certificate and certification in Orientation and Mobility is preferred. A license through the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) is required. Three (3) to five (5) years of related service delivery as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist is preferred. A valid Texas drivers license is required. District-wide travel is required.

Skill Requirements: This position requires the ability to teach and apply orientation and mobility theories, techniques, and curriculum, based on the appropriate assessment instrument. The job requires knowledge of normal child development and the ability to identify, assess and teach curriculum to students whose development has been affected by visual impairment and other disabilities. This position requires expertise in low-vision assistive technology, spatial mapping techniques, and route planning. Must demonstrate willingness to mentor staff, conducting district-wide professional development, and designing specialized O&M service models for students. Employees in this position must be able to communicate effectively with school staff, parents, and agency professionals and to work effectively as an integral part of the student's educational team. Incumbent must have knowledge of State, local and Federal laws regulating the delivery of services. Incumbent must be able to support students with computer set-up, navigation, and technology issues. Proficiency in Google Workspace and other computer software systems is required. Employees in this position must be able to read, write, and speak/communicate in English in order to receive and to provide work-related information in a timely manner to other employees, supervisors, principals, school personnel, volunteers and where appropriate, visitors and students.

Job Purpose and Responsibility: The purpose of this position is to develop, lead, and implement Individualized Educational goals and objectives in the student's school, home, and community. This position is responsible for providing Orientation and Mobility services at a level determined by a comprehensive Orientation and Mobility evaluation and agreed upon at an Annual Review Dismissal (ARD) meeting. These instructional services are provided to visually impaired students from birth to 22 years of age, or the 12th grade. Judgment is required to interpret broad State, Local, and Federal laws affecting the education of exceptional students and the impact of the laws on instructional plans. Provide students with appropriate in-person and distance or virtual instruction in core academic subject areas assigned to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth. Enable students to develop competencies and skills to function successfully in society.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and implement lesson plans for in-person, distance, and virtual learning that fulfil the requirements of the District's curriculum program and show written evidence of preparation is required. Prepare lessons that reflect accommodations for differences in individual student differences.
• Assess visually impaired students to evaluate the need for Orientation and Mobility services using comprehensive, multi-environment assessment techniques (including low-vision, dual-sensory impairment, and severe cognitive/motor impairment protocols).

Other Duties As Assigned: Perform other related duties as assigned; however, all employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required.

Physical Effort and Work Environment: 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. This position may involve rare exposure to blood or body fluids. Regular attendance is required for this position.

Tools/Equipment Used: Special needs adaptive equipment; standard testing equipment; standard office equipment including computer and peripherals

Posture: Frequent sitting, kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting

Motion: Frequent walking, grasping/squeezing, wrist flexion/extension

Lifting: Regular light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds), occasional heaving lifting (45 pounds or more) and positioning of students with physical disabilities; controlling behavior through physical restraint; assisting non-ambulatory students

Environment: School or classroom; exposure to biological hazards, bacteria, and communicable diseases; may require districtwide travel

Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under pressure

Personal Work Relationships: This position requires cooperative work with Teachers for the Visually Impaired, classroom teachers, and other District staff.

Employees in this position must also be able to maintain working relationships with parents, other orientation and mobility teachers, a range of vision professionals, and members of the community. Relationships are required to make referrals, to develop individual education plans, to provide comprehensive instruction, to obtain comprehensive services and to create an educational multidisciplinary approach in educating students.

The Austin Independent School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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