Blind Low Vision (BLV) Teacher

Summary:

The teacher for students with blindness or low vision travels to the students' assigned schools and/or community sites to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to vision loss. These services enable the students to learn in a variety of settings. The students range in age from 3 through 22 and may have only a visual impairment or additional disabilities, including cognitive, other sensory loss, physical, and/or behavioral. This specific position will be housed out of the Ed Center, located at 120 E. Walnut St, but will require travel, as needed, to assigned Indianapolis Public Schools and Non-Public schools located throughout Indianapolis.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties may be assigned, as needed.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Assessment and Evaluation:

Perform functional vision and literacy assessments.

Interpret eye medical reports as they relate to educational environments.

Contribute to the development of the IEP with appropriate goals and accommodations.

Recommend appropriate specialized evaluations as needed: such as low vision, orientation and mobility, psycho-social, and assistive technology.

Consult with diagnosticians, classroom teachers, students, and parents concerning appropriate evaluations, modification and test administration.

Obtain standardized tests and corporation required tests in the appropriate format.

Participate in team assessments.

Appropriate Learning Environment:

Assist in determining and procuring classroom equipment and materials necessary for the student with blindness or low vision to learn (braille, low vision devices, assistive technology, computer) including ensuring necessary room adaptations and lighting changes.

Provide the classroom teacher with information regarding the specialized strategies needed to teach the student with a blindness or low vision.

Consult with other instructional staff members to provide information to incorporate the expanded core curriculum into the entire instructional setting.

Provide adapted materials to the classroom teacher.

Provide Braille, auditory, enlarged and/or tactual symbols as appropriate for the individual child.

Support Services:

Provide assistance to students with blindness or low vision in understanding their attitude and those of others concerning their visual impairment

Facilitate social integration and interaction with peers

Provide support to parents to enhance their child's independence

Provide the teachers, staff and family of student with blindness or low vision with information regarding their individual needs, methodology, and strategies.

Participate with school personnel to secure job related experiences for students

Participate in transition planning

Collaborate with related services providers

Train and oversee paraprofessionals in the classroom

Administrative/Record Keeping Duties:

Provide updated pupil information to appropriate required agencies: IERC, Deaf-Blind, ICAM)

Submit requests for instructional materials in a timely manner

Update goals as stipulated by the Special Education Department

Maintain adequate record of all assessments, IEP's, Progress reports, signed parental releases, and doctor reports

Register students with blindness or low vision with appropriate agencies and keep records current

Communicate with parents concerning conferences, equipment acquisition, and upcoming information workshops

Supervise material preparation and acquisition

Core Competencies:

Critical core competencies for successful performance in this role include:

Highly developed communication skills (written and verbal)

Results-oriented

Unwavering moral compass guided by personal ethics, integrity, tolerance, and trustworthiness

Ability to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment

Willingness to support the classroom teacher and other building staff in a professional and collegial manner

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university.

Certificates and Licenses:

Valid Indiana Teacher's License for Teaching Students with Blindness or Low Vision. Dual Certification in Blind/Low Vision and Orientation and Mobility preferred, but not required

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus. Must be able and willing to drive to various school locations on a daily basis.