Blind Rehabilitation Specialist- Living Skills Specialist

The Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation (VISOR) Program provides comprehensive, individualized patient instructional programs designed to increase independence and improve the quality of life for veterans and active-duty service members who have a visual impairment. The program offers adaptive training in low vision living skills, communications, leisure and manual skills, computer access, technology, and orientation and mobility to help them manage life with vision loss.

Major duties

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), VA Medical Center Richmond, VA, Surgical Service, Ophthalmology Section, and VISOR Section (Advanced Outpatient Blind Rehabilitation.) The incumbent is a Living Skills (LS) Specialist in the VISOR Program, which serves both Medical Center patients and patients referred from the Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN). Major duties include, but not limited to: The incumbent is responsible for functioning as a full member of the Rehabilitation Team that includes Optometry, Ophthalmology, Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinators (VIST), Vision and Blind Rehabilitation Specialists, Audiology, Social Work, Rehabilitation Medicine Service (i.e. OT/PT/KT) and other related disciplines. The team is responsible for the total rehabilitation process of assigned patients. This includes acting as the Lead Therapist on assigned cases, evaluating patient needs, counseling, developing a plan of care, as well as individualized living skills treatment goals, implementing the plan, and recommending prosthetic issuance. The incumbent also evaluates new technology, provides and receives cross training instruction for other Blind Rehabilitation Specialists in low vision and blindness, and develops instructional material that can be utilized by any member of the team. Evaluates the patient's level of living skills: instruct techniques of reading and writing basic and advanced braille, script writing, and typing (both manual and electronic), instruct written communications, financial management including the use of talking calculators, abacus and braille mathematics code, adaptive listening and recording techniques, instruct all aspects of activities of daily living (including organization and time management, housekeeping, personal grooming, food preparation and kitchen management) and coordinate and instruct leisure time activities. The incumbent must keep abreast of the latest technology and instruction related to the living skills curricula. The Living Skills Instructor will also recommend appropriate prosthetic devices to be issued in accordance with national and local VHA standards and guidelines. Directly involved in deciding and justifying whether to issue or withhold issuance of prosthetic equipment. When participating in approved research activities, the incumbent is responsible for following all applicable research compliance and assurance policies and in contributing to the production of research results of high integrity. Interpreting documentation on assigned patients prior to scheduling assessment. Interpreting evaluations, assessments, medical, and other appropriate professional documentation on an on-going basis during the patient's rehabilitation program Assisting in the evaluation of new devices and techniques for inclusion into the team curriculum, helping to evaluate new aids and prosthetic devices relevant to living skills, and collaborating with research when requested. Keeping abreast of current literature, instructing strategies and technological advances specific to living skills, dual sensory loss, and sharing this information with other staff. Preparing, presenting and demonstrating living skills aids and treatment techniques to clinical trainees, patient family members/caregivers, VA personnel, community agency representatives, and others as appropriate. Serving as an integral member of a multi­disciplinary team for all patients assigned to the team . Performing other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education:. 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 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: 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). One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 -18 semester hours). 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. 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: (1) For GS-11 grade level and above. 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 below: (2) BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREPas 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 Specialist CATIS.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS), GS-11: (NOTE: Full performance level for BRS who are not VIST Coordinators.) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade. OR, 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. AND, Certification. Certification is required at this grade level and above. Staff BRS candidates must meet the certification requirements in paragraph 4c(2) above. BRSs at the GS-11 grade level must have at least one certification from ACVREP or a related, equivalent, professional certification. 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 outcomes.
• (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 forVeterans within scope of practice, making adaptations and modifications asrequired.

Preferred Experience: One or more years of experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring exertion such as standing or walking for up to two hours; frequent bending; reaching above the shoulder; light lifting and carrying (less than 40 pounds), pushing or pulling objects. Work requires travel in a variety of conditions affected by weather, road conditions, and traffic. The work requires the ability to read typewritten material and cope with a variety of complex situations due to the diversity of patients, duties and responsibilities. The work requires pushing veterans in wheelchairs on a regular basis.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.