Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Low Vision Therapy

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS) position located at the VA New Jersey Healthcare System 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 re-integrate back into their community and family environments. The primary purpose of this position is to provide vision rehabilitation services for Veterans and Service Members with visual impairment.

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. Education

• The individual must have earned: 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. 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)

• Low Vision Therapy, GS 09 (Entry level)

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.

• AND•Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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 Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS)

• Low Vision Therapy, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) 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.

BRSs at the GS-11 grade level must have at least one certification from ACVREP or a related, equivalent, professional certification in Low Vision Therapy.

• AND•Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)•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.

Preferred Experience:

Low Vision Therapist Certification. Experience providing patient care in Low Vision therapy. Ability to guide patients in adapting to vision loss and to interact with other Eye Care providers. Working knowledge of technology devices to improve functional vision.

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:

See VA Handbook 5019