The primary purpose of the position is to manage and provide direct blind and vision rehabilitation training services to visually impaired Veterans and Servicemembers. The incumbent identifies, assesses, trains, manages and provides follow-up for Veterans using the clinical resources of the facility. The work environment may be in an office, clinical setting, classroom, private home, VA grounds, nursing home, community sites, and hospitals.

Duties

The duties of the Blind Rehabilitation Specialist include but are not limited to: The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist provides direct Veteran care and support services to an adult population of Veterans which is characterized by a very significant number of older male Veterans as well as young OEF/OIF Veterans who may have wound and trauma related vision loss. The Veteran population served includes a wide range of age from young adult to over 90 years old, with significantly more male Veterans than female Veterans served. Within these broad categorizations, the incumbent must tailor Veteran care and support services to meet the needs of the individual Veteran. This includes the responsibility for assessment of each Veteran's needs and the delivery of services which are responsive to the concerns of individual Veteran to the extent possible. The incumbent, in concert with the Gulf Coast Blind Rehabilitation Center (GCBRC), all VIST Coordinators and other facility resources, is responsible for identifying beneficiaries who have the potential to benefit from blind and vision rehabilitation training. The incumbent consults with all Polytrauma teams, VIST Coordinators, eye clinics, blind and vision rehabilitation services and community resources to locate potential Veterans to offer direct blind and vision rehabilitation services in all five skill areas in the Veteran's home, other residence or within the community as the need arises. The incumbent is responsible for blind and vision rehabilitation assessment, planning, training, and outcomes evaluation on each Veteran for whom service is provided. Incumbent uses objective and subjective assessment tools and methods requiring broadly based advanced knowledge in the five skill areas. The incumbent consults with local, regional, and national resources for information. The incumbent selects, interprets and adapts traditional strategies to meet Veteran needs. The incumbent develops an individualized rehabilitation-training plan for each Veteran with rehabilitation potential. Each plan includes Veteran and/or family goals, as well as achievable and measurable outcomes. In some cases, the plan will be communicated to the Blind Rehabilitation Center to expedite inpatient rehabilitation training if that is a part of the Veteran's plan of blind rehabilitation care. The incumbent prioritizes rehabilitation training activities to maximize Veterans served, consistent with quality care and safety. Rehabilitation training will be designed to shorten waiting time, minimize use of the inpatient treatment at a Blind Rehabilitation Center or obviate the need for inpatient services. Veterans on the inpatient (Blind Rehabilitation Center) waiting list or those who have post discharge needs are prioritized for outpatient treatment. The incumbent makes maximum use of outpatient clinical facilities of the institution, together with proper and judicious use of home-based services as necessary. To maximize Veteran's rehabilitation potential, the incumbent makes use of a wide variety complex training aids and devices. Incumbent also uses complex assessment tools and trains Veterans on sophisticated prosthetics and sensory aids to accomplish the work, i.e., sophisticated computer interfaces for use with e-mail and Global positioning systems. The incumbent works closely with local VIST, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service and the regional Blind Rehabilitation Center to identify, recommend and obtain equipment for Veterans during their rehabilitation and provides full training. The incumbent provides care management for both VA and non-VA outpatient blind and vision rehabilitation activities. The incumbent develops recommendations and specifications for all blind and vision rehabilitation contract services specific for a Veteran's blind and vision rehabilitation care. The incumbent monitors and supervises the quality and quantity of non-VA contract or fee-basis blind and vision rehabilitation services provided to eligible beneficiaries. The incumbent provides effective Veteran counseling in the adjustment to blindness as an integral component of the work. The incumbent relies upon his/her extensive knowledge of the psychosocial issues associated with visual impairment to assist the Veteran in adjustment to visual impairment and the blind and vision rehabilitation process. The Veteran is referred to an appropriate professional for more extensive counseling as required. Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm M-F Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00627-F; 00628-F& 00629-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. Education (1) The individual must have earned: (a) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education. OR, (b) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (1)(a) above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following: i. At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university). ii. One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 18 semester hours). iii. A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree. iv. Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation. Certification. Required at the GS-11 grade level and above. (1) Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in subparagraph (2)) below: (2) BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows: (a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®). (b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®). (c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®). (d) Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®). Grade Determinations: BRS, GS-9 (Entry Level): (1) Experience. Bachelor's degree and completion of one year of experience. OR, (2) Education. Completion of at least two full years of progressive graduate education or a master's degree in a field directly related to the position. (3) Certification. No certification is required at this level. (4) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the education and experience above the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of the blind/vision rehabilitation service. (b) Knowledge of administration and interpretation of assessments and evaluations in blind/vision rehabilitation. (c) Ability to develop a basic written blind/vision rehabilitation plan from assessment results and develop more complex plans with consultation from supervisor. (d) Skill in instructing [Veterans] and families in a meaningful rehabilitation program and applying blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic techniques. (e) Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision prosthetic devices for Veterans within the scope of practice. (f) Ability to serve as team coordinator for assigned Veterans during their rehabilitation programs. BRS, GS-11: (1) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade. OR, (2) Education. Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Doctoral Degree; or Doctoral Degree in Blind Rehabilitation or a directly related field. (3) Certification. Certification is required at this grade level and above. Staff BRS candidates must meet the certification requirements in paragraph 3c(1) above. BRSs at the GS-11 grade level must have at least one certification from ACVREP or a related, equivalent, professional certification. (4) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation. (b) Ability to properly assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions. (c) Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific. (d) Skill in instructional methods and learning principles. (e) Ability to employ interventions and unusual motivational techniques and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan. (f) Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for Veterans within scope of practice, making adaptations and modifications as required. BRS, GS-12 (Sole Practice): (1) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. (2) Certification. Staff BRS candidates must meet the certification requirements in paragraph 3c(1) above. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized, complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation. (b) Ability to properly assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for therapeutic interventions. (c) Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines and contains observable, measurable goals that identify specific outcomes. (d) Ability to act as a subject matter expert in the blind/vision rehabilitation field and as a consultant, supervisor and/or mentor in evaluating and treating Veterans in specialty or program areas. (e) Ability to employ interventions and unusual motivational techniques and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan. (f) Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for Veterans within the scope of practice, while making adaptations and modifications, as required. (g) Ability to independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs.

Education

(h) Ability to communicate both orally and in writing with staff at all organizational levels, Veterans and their family members, community groups, and individuals with varying degrees of understanding.

Preferred Experience: N/A

References: VA Handbook 5005/109, Part II, Appendix G41, March 13, 2019

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 9 to GS 12.

Physical Requirements: Work is active and, on occasion, physical--dependent upon the activity engaged with the Veteran. Physical activities such as lifting, moving, bending, and stooping are required based upon activity.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address GV Sonny Montgomery VAMC 1500 East Woodrow Wilson Drive Jackson, MS 39216 US
• Name: Richard Cohen
• Phone: 504-422-9343
• Email: [email protected]