JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION: Orientation and Mobility Specialist - North Bay/EBC
REPORTS TO: Director, Orientation and Mobility or Regional Manager, Orientation and Mobility
STATUS: Full Time, Exempt
JOB CLASSIFICATION: Specialist II
UNION ELIGIBLE: Yes
WORK ARRANGEMENT: Hybrid, 3 days/week in-person, servicing the Greater Bay Area
LOCATION: California
SALARY RANGE: $69,000-$90,711
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open Until Filled
*Blind/visually impaired strongly encouraged to apply.
*Please note the terms and conditions of this position may be subject to change, once a Union Collective Bargaining Agreement is in place.
About the LightHouse
Founded in San Francisco in 1902, the LightHouse's vision is a world where blind and low vision people flourish, and its mission is to promote independence, community, and equity created by and with blind and low vision people.
LightHouse Values
- Blindness Positivity: We take pride in our ability to navigate our lives as blind and low vision people.
- Disability Justice: We recognize the inherent worth of every person and commit to advancing equity and interdependency.
- Inclusion: We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to belong and live to their full potential, encompassing their identities, backgrounds, and abilities.
- Excellence: We provide the highest-quality services and products, and we continuously learn, improve, and innovate.
- Empowerment: We encourage self-determination, independence, and autonomy.
- Compassion: We make efforts to understand one another, and we treat every person with dignity and respect.
OVERVIEW
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is looking for a full time Orientation and Mobility Specialist (O&M Specialist). The Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS or NOMC) provides in-person and virtual orientation and mobility instruction to blind, low-vision, or deaf-blind youth, adults, and seniors from diverse backgrounds. The Orientation and Mobility Specialist (OMS) will conduct assessments and provide training that reflects recent and progressive travel and orientation techniques and trends, focusing on the student's travel needs in the home, work, academic sites, and community.
The OMS must have the ability to assess and teach to differing skill levels, as well as to train on varied mobility devices and options. The OMS must provide instruction that takes into consideration understanding of student's abilities and potential health conditions. Knowledge and understanding of primary eye conditions, including Cortical Visual Impairment, is imperative. Knowledge of health associated with aging, head injury, diabetes, and mental health is very helpful. Together, the OMS and the student develop and revise goals to achieve the student's intended mobility outcomes.
Flexibility and 'thinking outside of the box' are essential attributes for this position. The OMS also provides training with the student using a training shade where best applied for learning and instruction. The OMS must be able to work with and provide information and training to family and friends, community members, volunteers, and service providers as well as effectively communicate and collaborate with referral agencies. A second language ability is preferred. Cultural sensitivity to disability is integral to this position. The duties of the OMS may include conducting assessments, writing individual training plans, and facilitating individual and group instruction as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's Degree or BA in Orientation and Mobility (ACVREP Certified) or Master's Degree and National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC) from the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB)
- Minimum of 2 years teaching Orientation and Mobility preferred.
- Knowledge and understanding of primary eye conditions, including Cortical Visual Impairment is imperative.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, flexible, detail-oriented.
- Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, patience, and ability to relate to a diverse population.
- Manage multiple projects with precision and a high degree of organization.
- Strong computer skills - Microsoft Office Suite, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Fluency in Spanish, Cantonese, ASL, or Russian preferred.
- Multicultural teaching experience and cultural sensitivity preferred.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assess individual needs of students and set goals for instruction.
- Provide professionally written student assessments and training summaries to third-party contracting sources.
- Maintain weekly and monthly database entries regarding units of service provided to students.
- Act as Agency liaison in community transportation services and auditory signal issues.
- Provide cane travel, route travel with dog guide users, and human guide instruction.
- Maintain updated information regarding Paratransit programs.
- Provide orientation and route training in all environments and on various forms of public transit.
- Assess and teach basic and essential independent living skills.
- Facilitate or co-facilitate classes and conduct outreach with local universities.
- Conduct student home safety assessments and community agency evaluations.
- Attend and participate in all-staff meetings and maintain professional communication.
- May supervise, mentor, and provide instruction to Orientation and Mobility Interns.
- Willingness to perform other related duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to teach in various weather conditions.
- Physical stamina to work indoors and outdoors and walk up to 7 hours at a time.
- Ability to lift 25lbs frequently and up to 50lbs occasionally with assistance.
- Ability to independently travel to all LightHouse physical locations and events.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit a cover letter and resume as Word attachments to HR@lighthouse-sf.org, including the job title in the subject line. We will not consider videos or hyperlinks to online profiles. Due to time constraints, we will only respond to complete submissions in which there is serious interest.
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