Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Step into a meaningful career as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist with the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services. This role gives you the chance to teach life-changing skills that help individuals who are blind or visually impaired navigate the world with greater independence. Each day brings new opportunities to make a strong and lasting difference. Be part of a team dedicated to empowering others!

This position provides essential rehabilitation services that help individuals who are blind or visually impaired build skills for confident and independent living. As an Orientation and Mobility Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Assessment and Planning: Evaluate customer abilities and needs to develop individualized instructional plans
• Instruction Delivery: Provide one‑on‑one or group lessons using experience‑based learning and guided practice
• Equipment Selection: Choose appropriate canes, travel aids, and technology to support safe independent travel
• Progress Monitoring: Review customer development to ensure steady improvement and successful outcomes
• Support and Counseling: Offer guidance to customers and families to reinforce skills and encourage independence
• Professional Development: Stay current on Orientation and Mobility techniques and participate in trainings to strengthen practice

• Full‑time employment
• Work hours are negotiable, Monday‑Friday, with a 30‑ or 60‑minute lunch depending on work hours. AWS (alternate work schedule) may be available.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home 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 Erie. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time.
• 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).

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Successful completion of the Commonwealth’s Orientation and Mobility Intern program; or
• Possession of an active Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP); 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.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 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.

• 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.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law.

All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.