Orientation and Mobility Specialist

About the role

Orientation and Mobility Specialist is a rewarding professional opportunity focused on empowering others. This role with the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS), Harrisburg District Office offers the chance to make a real difference for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in a high population, multi-county coverage area.

You will perform specialized work providing orientation and mobility training to help the people we serve develop skills required to travel safely and independently within their homes and in their communities. Apply now to take the next step in your career with a dynamic team that values growth, learning, public service!

This position provides a full range of rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. BBVS services are designed to assist individuals in their homes and communities so they can work and maintain independent lives. As an Orientation and Mobility Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Customer Assessment: Interview customers, observe their current level of functioning, review reports, and confer with staff to develop individualized service plans
• Plan Development: Create service plans with schedules of instruction that support adjustment, learning, and rehabilitation
• Skill Training: Provide sequences of individual and group instruction in how to use a cane, low vision and electronic travel aids, and other assistive technology and strategies
• Progress Monitoring: Track customer progress and adjust plans to ensure that the customer benefits from instruction
• Collaboration Support: Provide guidance to families, staff, and community partners to improve service delivery, cultural awareness, and general understanding
• Record Management: Maintain accurate electronic case files, notes, and reports in required systems

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday
• Work hours are typically 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM with a 30-minute lunch. Work schedule may be negotiable within a 7.5 hour work day. AWS (alternate work schedule) may be available.
• This position is part of the Harrisburg District Office. You will be assigned a territory within Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York counties.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg or an approved office in the caseload territory. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $60,538.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements

• Successful completion of the commonwealth’s Orientation and Mobility Intern program; or
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree or certificate from an approved college or university program in orientation and mobility that includes a practicum; or
• Possession of an active Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
• Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

Additional information

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
• your score may be lower than deserved.
• you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.