Blind Rehabilitation Therapist - Low Vision Therapist

Summary

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Low Vision Therapist will provide blind and vision rehabilitation services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members. This includes the disciplines of low vision therapy - orientation and mobility - vision rehabilitation therapy - manual skills instruction and computer access instruction.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
• (1) The individual must have earned: (a) 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 (b) 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 or 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 or 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
• Certification
• Required at the GS-11 grade level and above
• (1) 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
• NOTE:
  
  The ACVREP administers four certification programs:
  Low Vision Therapy - Orientation and mobility - Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy
• They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in subparagraph (2) below: (2) BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows: (a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®)
• (b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®)
• (c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®)
• (d) Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®)
• Loss of Credential
• (1) Once certified - a BRS must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted independent certification to remain qualified for employment
• Loss of certification will result in removal from the BRS occupation and may result in termination of employment
• (2) A BRS who has - or has ever had his/her certification revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section B - Paragraph 16
• 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
• Grade Determinations:
  Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Low Vision Therapist - 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 or progressively higher level…