Job Opening - Senior Services Specialist for the Blind 1 - Rehabilitation Teacher

February 9, 2010

STATE OF IOWA

Professional Employment Opportunity

Senior Services Specialist for the Blind 1 - Rehabilitation Teacher

Provide those services necessary to help individuals who are blind or visually impaired develop the confidence and skills needed to independently and competently participate in their families, communities, and occupations of choice.  Provide services on an outreach basis, covering the northwest and north central portion of Iowa. Work primarily with older individuals and with individuals who have significant co-disabilities.  Assess needs to determine services that will best serve the individual and work with the individual to develop and implement a plan to meet identified needs. Provide instruction in the alternative techniques of blindness (including Braille, travel with the long white cane, use of assistive technology, home management, and leisure activities).  Provide guidance and counseling about vision loss to promote a positive adjustment to blindness.  Assist individuals access various community resources by providing information and referral services, and advocacy.

Follow prescribed case management practices and provide narrative reports inclusive of need assessments, plans to meet identified needs, rationale for service decisions, description of services provided, and results achieved.  Coordinate and facilitate agency services such as library services and training in the Adult Orientation and Adjustment Center.  Work in tandem with the vocational rehabilitation counselor to support clients in the pursuit of their vocational goals.

Provide consultation and in-service training to other agencies so they can better serve their clients who are blind. Deliver presentations to civic, social, and professional organizations to increase awareness about department services and promote a positive philosophy of blindness.  Assist  with other department outreach activities.

Must possess highly developed teaching and counseling skills, good public speaking and writing skills, excellent organizational skills, and excellent judgment. Must possess the abilities to handle sensitive situations, solve problems, and work as a member of a team.  Intensive training in appropriate skills and attitudes of blindness will be provided. Must possess knowledge of or be able to learn effective alternative techniques of blindness, particularly in the areas of communications, travel with a long white cane, and home and personal management. Extensive travel with some evenings, overnights, and weekends. Domiciled in north west or north central Iowa.

Minimum qualifications are:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing, or business and experience equal to three years of full time professional work, or;
the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a rehabilitation counselor or teacher shall be considered as qualifying provided the employee has successfully completed training to meet the certification criteria established by the agency, or;
an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time professional work experience for each year of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years.

Salary range:

$42,369.60—$64,521.60 annually, plus comprehensive benefit package, Pay Grade 28, Pay Plan 000

Hours:

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday

Domicile:

North west or north central Iowa

Location: 

Iowa Department for the Blind, 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-2364

For further information contact Becky Criswell, Supervisor, (515) 281-1299 or (800) 362-2587. Persons who wish to be considered for this position must submit a resume and letter of application to Karen A. Keninger, Director, Iowa Department for the Blind, 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 or karen.keninger@blind.state.ia.us no later than Friday, March 5, 2010.

EEO/AA