Summary

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS) is responsible for providing a full range of blind rehabilitation therapies to Veterans and service members within the Southwestern Blind Rehabilitation Center (SWBRC) at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) - in Tucson - AZ. Service may occasionally be provided via Telehealth.

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: 1
• 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 2
• 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
• 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 Determination: GS-09 Experience
• Bachelor's degree and completion of one year of experience
• OR 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the education and experience above the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Knowledge of policies and procedures of the blind/vision rehabilitation service
• Knowledge of administration and interpretation of assessments and evaluations in blind/vision rehabilitation
• Ability to develop a basic written blind/vision rehabilitation plan from assessment results and develop more complex plans with consultation from supervisor
• Skill in instructing [Veterans] and families in a meaningful rehabilitation program and applying blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic techniques
• Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision prosthetic devices for Veterans within the scope of practice
• Ability to serve as team coordinator for assigned Veterans during their rehabilitation programs
• Grade Determination: GS-11 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
• Certification: Required at the 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
• BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows: Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®) OR Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®) OR Communication and daily living therapy/Rehabilitation Teaching - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®) OR Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®) 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: Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation
• Ability to properly assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions
• Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable - measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes
• Skill in instructional methods and learning principles
• Ability to employ interventions and unusual motivational techniques and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan
• Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for Veterans within scope of practice - making adaptations and modifications as required
• References: VHA Directive 1174 and VA Handbook 5005-48 - Part Il - Appendix G 41 - Blind Rehabilitation Specialist Qualification Standard GS-601 Veterans Health Administration
• 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.

Duties

• The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist position located in the Southwestern Blind Rehabilitation Center (SWBRC) provides care and services to enhance the quality of life for individuals with vision loss through participation in a comprehensive and individualized rehabilitation program - so they may successfully reintegrate back into their community and family environments.Duties may include - but are not limited to the following: Evaluating and assessing needs - capabilities and limitations - goal setting and prescribing a treatment plan for individuals experiencing blindness/visual impairment caused by injury or disease
• Works as part of the inpatient rehabilitation team coordinating care for blind and visually impaired Veterans
• Maintains close communication with all other members of the interdisciplinary SWBRC staff - including optometry - psychology - social work - recreation - and nursing - to ensure the needs and goals of the Veteran are being met
• Independent evaluation - treatment - and management of a blind and vision rehabilitation program of instruction that teaches Veterans with visual impairments to utilize adaptive skills and techniques necessary to cope with the demands of everyday life
• Use diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and instrumentation to identify and resolve or minimize these problems
• Identify the difficulties confronting the Veteran and the barriers to treatment and then develop and provide intervention designed to enhance the blind and vision rehabilitation process
• Develops an individualized treatment plan in conjunction with an interdisciplinary team to improve the quality of life for blind and visually impaired Veterans through the development of skills and capabilities needed for personal independence - emotional stability and the successful integration into community - family - and environment
• Serves as a subject matter expert for other medical and allied health staff by providing counseling to healthcare providers and professionals on the nature of visual impairment and blind and vision rehabilitation
• Work Schedule: Full time - Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm