CAREERS

Basic Function:

• Provide expertise and lead vision-specific part of program curricula for the various Youth Programs, including team of personnel and clients
• Participate in and support various aspects of the different Youth Programs and the values and mission of Lighthouse Central Florida (LCF) as a member of the rehabilitation team
• Maintain the confidentiality of program participants in accordance with State and Federal regulations
• Support the values and mission of Lighthouse Central Florida

Work Direction:

Work as a member of the Youth Program team under the supervision of the Youth Services Manager, will support all three programs including carrying a reduced/proportional Early Intervention Caseload.

Job Requirements:

Teacher for Visually Impaired

• Conduct Assessments among all three youth programs and functional vision evaluations (if they do not have them from school) to establish, in consultation with parent(s) or guardian, an Individual Service Plan including immediate and long term goals and includes intake, assessment, and instruction based on established individual goals and professional standards
• When needed, attend Children’s and Transition Program events on Wednesday afternoons, Weekends, and the Summer Programing. (flex time is used to even out hours)
• Coordinate the implementation of service plans and curricula with other members of the teams
• May provide home, virtual, community and center-based instruction as appropriate to the needs of the child
• If required, collaborate with other community agencies as a member of the child’s and family’s IEP team as well as if required, collaborate with local school districts as a member of the child’s IEP team
• Complete required reports to document child’s progress, including assessments, goals, daily and monthly progress reports, and data entry
• Work with other members of the Youth Services team to fulfill the MOU with UCP locations as the TSVI for their students; this includes assessment, cultivating IEP goals and objectives, and fulfilling those goals and objectives
• Identify and actively support appropriate involvement of volunteers in program functions to extend and enhance team effectiveness and efficiency. Serve as the primary staff contact for volunteers who are assisting with aspects of assigned work.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Disabilities education, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or other related degree required.
• Master’s Degree emphasizing Orientation and Mobility from an accredited university (is preferred)

License and/or Certification

A minimum of one certification and progress toward (re-)certification is required:

• TSVI (Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments) State of Florida
• COMS Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist
• Must complete the following upon hire:
  • Recreational Safety Supports: CPR – First Aid

Experience:

Minimum of one (1) year experience teaching or working with children with a disability preferred

Demonstrated Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to adjust, cope and support agency changes in positive manor
• Communicate with other departments with demonstration of tolerance and flexibility
• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Possess a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Possess an ability to utilize the database for client demographics, documentation and agency reports
• Possess effective organizational and time management skills with attention to detail

Physical Demands:

• Moderate physical effort required
• Moderate ability to move and lift items usually ranging up to 40 lbs.
• Strength to physically assist visually impaired and multi-handicapped children
• Climbing stairs, Walking
• Reaching and/or grasping, Carrying, pushing and/or pulling
• Stooping, kneeling, bending and crouching in order to work with children on the floor
• Ability to actively participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor field trips
• Ability to move about independently
• Prolonged standing upon occasion, Prolonged sitting at work station

Requirements:

• Maintain required certification and/or license
• Local travel over 50% and possess reliable transportation (mileage reimbursement per agency policies and procedures)
• Hold a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and proof of insurance
• Pass Level II background check

*It is the policy of Lighthouse Central Florida not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or because he or she is a protected veteran. It is also the policy of Lighthouse Central Florida to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment, all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment.