SY 26-27 Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Two years of full-time, paid, professional experience as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist working in schools with school-age students, which has included working with students with blindness/visual impairment and multiple disabilities, and writing IEP goals.

• Demonstrated knowledge of:

• federal, state and local mandates governing the implementation of special education programs.
• laws and regulations that affect orientation and mobility services.
• principles, techniques, equipment, and literature used in providing orientation and mobility services.
• major theories and intervention strategies with educational implications for students with visual impairments.
• effective behavior management skills and training techniques.
• how to prepare and use equipment and materials, such as tactile maps, models, optical devices, pre-canes, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and long canes for the development of orientation and mobility skills.
• braille, basic orientation, mobility, and adaptive technology skills.
• professional resources pertinent to the orientation and mobility profession.
• basic principles of learning theories and their implications for orientation and mobility training.
• how to plan and conduct orientation and mobility assessments and programs.

• Demonstrated ability to:

• provide effective orientation and mobility training.
• develop effective treatment plans and service.
• provide for student safety during orientation and mobility instruction and in other environments while fostering maximum independence during orientation and mobility training.
• provide orientation of new buildings and class schedules to students with visual impairments as needed.
• document progress and relate it to students’ goals and objectives.
• use assistive technology with students with visual impairments.
• appropriately and correctly model orientation and mobility techniques for students, parents, teachers, and other school staff.
• maintain accurate records.
• assess the effectiveness of activities.
• use a personal computer.
• understand and follow oral or written directions.
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Certificates/Licenses

• Possession of a valid Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).

              OR

• Possession of a valid National Orientation Mobility certificate (NOMC) issued by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board.