Citywide Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Citywide Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) works to support networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education including instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance support. OSD supports strategic utilization of resources, aligning them to our strategic plan and district priorities, to increase student achievement.

Job Summary:

Citywide Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMSs) teach students who are blind or who have severe visual impairments safe, efficient, independent travel skills often using the long white cane. COMSs teach students the skills and techniques that are necessary for confidently and safely navigating throughout the environment to the greatest extent possible according to students' ages and ability levels. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) lessons include instruction in skills associated with using sighted guides, using protective techniques while traveling through unfamiliar areas, indoor cane skills, outdoor cane skills, street crossings, and the use of all forms of public transportation systems. Spatial concept development and listening to environmental sounds are important skills for students to master during orientation and mobility lessons. Teaching students with low vision to properly use low vision devices, such as monocular telescopes, is another responsibility of a COMS. COMSs routinely design tactile maps for their students to utilize in order to plan routes to preferred destinations.

The Citywide Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Evaluating students who have visual impairments to determine eligibility for O&M service by identifying strengths and needs in mobility skills
• Developing IEP goals as integral members of the school eligibility and IEP team
• Providing direct instruction and consultative services for a caseload of students who have been identified as having visual disabilities and who are eligible for O&M
• Collaborating with classroom teachers and staff members on the implementation of strategies, accommodations, and/or modifications that will facilitate independent student movement and access to classroom materials and frequently visited school spaces and environments
• Adhering to orientation and mobility service minutes as outlined in student IEPs
• Creating lessons based on identified IEP goals
• Teaching students to use a variety of public transportation modes as outlined in IEPs
• Collecting data toward mastery of O&M IEP goals as outlined in student IEPs
• Participating in annual IEP meetings and three-year re-evaluation eligibility conferences for students on caseload
• Consulting with parents of caseload students on student progress and how skills learned at school can be reinforced at home
• Providing direct instruction on using long white canes, low vision devices, tactile maps, 3D maps, and high-tech devices specially designed for mobility for students with visual disabilities
• Participating in ongoing CPS and/or outside professional development opportunities and being able to impart knowledge acquired to fellow team members
• Complying with all central office requests for data collection regarding student achievement and teacher accountability

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the CityWide Certified and Orientation Mobility specialist must possess the following qualifications:

• Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP)
• Dually certified COMSs (COMS certification and ISBE TVI licensure), preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong spoken and written communication skills
• Knowledge of the Chicago street grid
• The physical ability to efficiently walk and/or take public transportation throughout the city of Chicago
• Ability to maintain focus throughout lessons and to react quickly when potential hazards appear
• Ability to plan routes and anticipate possible hazards in terrain
• Knowledge of the UEB braille code
• Ability to work cohesively as a member of several teams in several schools throughout the city

Benefits:

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice

CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

• Medical Plan Options
• Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Behavioral Health & EAP
• Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow

We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

• Basic Life Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Pension Plans
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life

CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Days
• Parental Leaves
• Short-Term Disability
• Religious Holidays

Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions; however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.