Summary

The Western Blind Rehabilitation Center is an inpatient facility located within the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. The Blind Rehab Specialist - Computer Access Technology (CAT) Instructor works with Veterans with visual impairments to assess individual abilities and goals - develop treatment plan and and provide training for successful use of technology using accessibility software such as screen readers or magnifiers - or accessibility functions on mobile technology devices.

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: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Education: 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
• (2) Blind Rehabilitation Specialists (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®)
• 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)
• BRS - GS-9: (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
• 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 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 for Veterans within scope of practice - making adaptations and modifications as required
• 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
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring exertion such as standing or walking
• frequent bending - reaching - stooping to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus
• lifting and repositioning patient's equipment and pushing or pulling heavy objects
• The work may require special physical characteristics and abilities such as above average dexterity to perform intricate procedures
• The work environment may be nan office - clinical setting - computer classroom - VA grounds and/or hospitals
• Typically the employee sits comfortably to do the work
• however - there may be some walking - standing - bending - carrying of light items - such as papers and books.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include - but not limited to: Reviews and interprets pertinent patient documentation and records - pre-admission
• Serves as Patient Coordinator for each patient assigned to their caseload Serving as a patient/team liaison - an information resource - and an advocate
• Independently assesses - plans - and instructs in the CATS Department and teaches the skills necessary to use specialized access software/equipment in order to operate a computer
• Evaluates the ability of the veteran to magnification - synthetic speech - voice recognition or Braille access devices in order to perform word processing functions and other computer related activities
• Assesses the patient's background - interests - future plans - motivation - needs - and aptitude
• evaluates the patient's functional visual capabilities - determines appropriate instructional techniques - implements training plans - and continues to reassess patient's needs and goal attainment throughout the rehabilitation process
• Must be well versed in on-the-phone technical support for patients post-discharge - as well as on ward technical support for CAT program participants and co-workers within the CAT Department
• In addition - the specialist must have the ability to instruct the use of the JAWS - ZoomText - as well as Zoom and Voiceover on the current Apple mobile and tablet computing devices
• Documents - in accordance with established recording standards and procedures - all services performed on behalf of the patient: on-going progress - issues as they occur - steps towards issue resolution - and current treatment plan
• Attends general staff meetings - actively participating in all team meetings and preparing a treatment plan - progress notes and summaries for inclusion in the final summary as required by the center's policy and procedures
• Assists in the research and evaluation of new devices and techniques for inclusion into the team curriculum and helping to evaluate prosthetic devices relevant to CAT
• Adheres to the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) Safety Protocols with respect to proper maintenance of equipment
• Performs research task commensurate with skills as well as submit required statistical information and data in accordance with established WBRC statistical reporting procedures
• Performing other duties as assigned
• these include but are not limited to membership in WBRC committees - process action teams - service programs - research projects - and clinical initiatives
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized