Job Description

Posting number: 2026-DSB-002

Department: Dept. of Services for the Blind

Job classification: VISION REHABILITATION SPECIALIST - SENIOR

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Health Services, Education, Human Services, Rehabilitation Services

Summary

Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Aggie Swanson at (360) 407-7934 or email

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist – Senior (In-Training)

This recruitment will be used to fill 1 vacancy in Yakima Washington.

Work Location & Flexible Schedule: This position offers significant location flexibility. The selected candidate may reside up to three (3) hours from the assigned duty station - Yakima, WA. The position is primarily telework-based. However, in-person work at the duty station will be required. When in-person presence is needed, the employee will travel to the assigned office during work hours using a state vehicle. Depending on scheduling needs, occasional overnight travel may be required. In those instances, lodging will be arranged in accordance with state travel policies.

**Contact Information: Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Rachel Vaughan via email jobs@des.wa.gov.

Note: Standard business hours are Monday – Friday, from 8 AM to 5:00 PM, and may occasionally require flexibility to meet the agency's needs. We promote a healthy work/life balance. Telework and a flexible schedule may be available upon supervisory approval. Extensive daily travel is required, as well as occasional overnights. The hiring team may make a hiring decision at any time. It is within your best interest to apply for this position at your earliest convenience.

DSB Relocation Allotment: DSB offers, upon approval, a relocation bonus and allotment for those staff relocating and needing to make the move to, or across the beautiful state of Washington to join our team.

Who We Are:

Washington State Department of Services for the Blind is “working together with individuals who are Blind, Deaf-Blind or Low Vision so they can flourish in their homes, communities, and workplaces.” DSB's Vocational Rehabilitation program assists individuals with visual disabilities achieve gainful employment and economic vitality through integration into the nation’s workforce, while assisting businesses with accessibility training, consultation, recruitment, and retention of qualified employees. Together, these services lead to the greater employment of qualified Blind, Deaf Blind and Low Vision individuals and more accessible and diverse businesses.

DSB is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness - qualifying employer.

About the Opportunity:

The Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior analyzes and assesses the adaptive skills of participants 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 Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior applies superior emerging and evolving technologies and training methods to current and future participants and employer. They recommend and help develop the curriculum and implement training methodologies to participants and employers seeking to accommodate their staff in accordance with Section 508 and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This position also recruits, evaluates and manages vendors who provide specialized adaptive rehabilitation training and teaching to participants. It develops program standards related to Low Vision Evaluations, develops and monitors budget for Low Vision Labs and Adaptive Tools. It also provides adaptive education to businesses, participants, community partners, and employers.

Applicants who do not have a current Orientation and Mobility certification at the time of hire, must agree to obtain certification 6 months after your start date to maintain employment.

To learn more about this position, email the recruiter: Rachel Vaughan @ jobs@des.wa.gov and request the full job description.

Examples of duties

Some of What You will Enjoy Doing:

Adaptive assessments and recommendations

• Conducts a comprehensive, in-depth assessment of all participants who are referred for vocational rehabilitation services. The Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior gathers information respective of the participant's disability/disabilities, family support, educational/work history, motivation to work, adaptive skills of blindness and identification of functional limitations, attitude and acceptance of vision loss and other disabilities
• Assesses and measures participant's adjustment to vision loss, readiness for training. If issue arises, works with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, or PS4, to address any issues or conflicts. Recommends and implements solutions, therapies, techniques, and tools to address low vision needs
• Analyze anticipated needs for aids and appliances and skills and techniques, and determine the most effective and cost-efficient way to provide training (internally and/or externally) through discussion with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC), internal team, and participant
• Facilitate the practice of “informed choice”
• Make formal recommendations in the electronic case management system

Provide & Dev. Adaptive Training Curriculum & Orientation to Tools for Daily Living & Employ

• Independently demonstrate skills in synthesizing assessment data and developing of comprehensive specialized services and training unique to the individual and program as it relates to the vocational goal
• Coordinate assessment results with team, and develop plans for overlapping areas of responsibilities
• Communicate to the participant the scope of training, competencies, and expected results of training
• Develop and communicate the objectives and completion measurements for all training
• Conduct training or arrange contract training to external vendor
• Monitor participant progress and assesses effectiveness of training, making any necessary adjustments to training plan
• Test and measure participant competencies
• Serves as a regional and statewide resource to participants, staff and community partners
• Communicate the Agency's scope and mission
• Educate community partners and employers to an array of adaptive tools and techniques that allow for optimal activities of daily living, travel, and access to communications for potential students and employees
• Provides consultation, presentations/trainings, and technical assistance statewide, and nationwide, to community resource and service providers for the application and use of adaptive tools and training

Support Other Vision Rehabilitation Specialists

• Provides support and is responsible for the onboarding, training, and development for lower-level vision rehabilitation specialist staff towards competency among the range of vision rehabilitation specialists skill sets
• Responsible for ongoing training requests by lower-level staff and requests from Regional Area Managers (RAM) for employee retention training for lower-level staff
• Support statewide vision rehabilitation specialists process review and improvement efforts

Low Vision Evaluations, Recommendations, and Management

• Ability to independently perform comprehensive low vision evaluations including calculating magnification needs, lighting needs in home and workplace, glare reduction tools. Recommends solutions and alternatives as needed
• Coordinates recommendations to vocational rehabilitation participants and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
• Manages Low Vision Lab, overseeing the lab supplies, inventory, and makes recommendations for budget with the oversight of the Regional Area Manager

Documentation & Communication

• Prepare and maintain, which includes writing and editing, current documentation of training activities and related services in the automated case management system
• Communicate and coordinate participant Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching needs with the team
• In the team environment, provide input toward the development of quality service standards which affect policy, best practices and invoke procedural changes

Skills Development/Refreshment & Eval of Adaptive Training Innovations

• Evaluate new or upgraded aids, appliances, techniques and technologies
• Keep current with developments in the Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching profession
• Meet with peer Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching staff on a quarterly basis and share new techniques, ideas and professional developments
• Assumes responsibility for preparing and delivering one formal peer or team training annually
• Mentor and train new staff in the areas of adaptive skills assessment, low vision assessments, DSB procedures and documentation independently without supervision

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

NOTE: Applicants who do not have a current Orientation and Mobility certification must agree to obtain certification 6 months after your start date to maintain employment.

This position may be filled at the Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Entry, Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Journey, or Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior level, depending on qualifications. Advancement to the next level will be based upon the successful completion of an established In-Training Plan. Low Vision Evaluation and professional development of these skills are provided by DSB as the successful candidate progresses in their position.

What is an in-training plan? The in-training is intended to provide an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan. Upon successful completion of an in-training program, the incumbent will move up to the next job classification that is listed on the in-training plan if applicable.

Required Qualifications for Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Entry

To qualify for this specific Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Entry level position, a candidate must possess the following:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; NOTE: Two (2) years of experience in social services or providing services to individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind will substitute for two (2) years of the required education
• A current Orientation and Mobility certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire

Required Qualifications for Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Journey

To qualify for this specific Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Journey level position, a candidate must possess one (1) of the following qualification combination options:

[OPTION 1]:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology
• A current Orientation and Mobility certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire

[OPTION 2]:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; AND
• Two (2) years of paid professional experience providing services that teach adaptive skill of blindness to the blind, low vision, or deaf blind individuals
• A current Orientation and Mobility certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire

Required Qualifications for Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior

To qualify for this specific Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior level position, a candidate must possess one (1) of the following qualification combination options:

[OPTION 1]:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology
• A current Orientation and Mobility certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire

[OPTION 2]:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; AND
• Three (3) years of paid professional experience providing services that teach adaptive skills of blindness to the blind, low vision, or deaf blind individuals, including one year of supervisory or lead experience
• A current Orientation and Mobility certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire

The salary ranges for each level of the position is as follows:

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Entry: $3,840 - $5,137 per month

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Journey: $4,428 - $5,956 per month

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior: $5,271 - $7,082 per month

Preferred Qualifications:

• Effective in conducting superior work with a high degree of independence and autonomy
• Demonstrates superior documentation and qualify of work
• Knowledge of: concepts, principles, and practices of blind and vision rehabilitation and the use of assessment techniques to determine capabilities of and potential barriers for persons who are blind, low vision or deaf blind; principles, methods, and techniques used to assist individuals in adjusting to vision loss; public and private resources and services that address holistic needs of individual participants with disabilities or business-as-customer; principles of adult education, curriculum creation and revision, and instruction adaptability to address multiple disabilities; current trends, techniques, and tools in vision rehabilitation; techniques, information, and supports for assisting individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind to integrate into the community and competitive, integrated employment; blind community and consumer organizations, and other community supports; psychological aspects of blindness; theory and techniques of training blind and visually impaired persons to travel; nature and training of human senses; learning modalities; psychology; mental health; secondary disabilities and other conditions
• Ability to: work independently; supervise and direct others; develop curricula and in-service training; teach adaptive skills of blindness; analyze complex situations for emotional and physical safety of individual participant and take appropriate effective action including handling emergent situations, coaching, and provision of counseling and advocacy; work effectively with individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind, including those with additional disabilities; present ideas clearly and effectively orally and in writing; train peers; engage with businesses as a dual customer to address business-specific needs around disability

Supplemental information

How to Apply:

Interested? We would love to hear from you! Click “Apply” at the top of this page to start your application. You can save the application and come back to it, if needed. Be sure to complete the application fully to include a full work history and responses to the supplemental questions.

Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

• A letter of interest, describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education; and
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, year of birth, etc.).

Please Note: By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify the information provided. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section of the online application. Please do not refer to the resume for details, or your application may be disqualified.

Background Check Notice: Prior to any new appointment into the Department of Services for the Blind, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted as a condition of employment. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

Union Inclusion:

This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Opportunity for All:

The Department of Services for the Blind celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.