Teacher of Visually Impaired

JOB SUMMARY

The Teacher of the Visually Impaired provides educational support and consultation services to blind and vision impaired students in collaboration with district personnel. The Teacher of the Visually Impaired provides both direct services to students and consulting services to the student’s classroom teachers, other personnel, and hearing students.

• Ohio Department of Education license as an Intervention Specialist or certificate/license for Education of the Handicapped K-12
• Vision Handicapped or Vision Impaired endorsement

• Provide an evaluation of student needs; select appropriate, nondiscriminatory screening and assessment tools
• Interpret assessment information to teachers, students and parents
• Provide consultation to children, parents, teachers, and administrators regarding the needs of students who are blind/vision impaired
• Provide technology support to students and personnel using assistive devices
• Provide services for students who have differing communication styles
• Provide early intervention services for preschool students and staff upon request
• Provide support for instructional assistants and note takers
• Meet regularly with the support team and provide support staff with appropriate materials and information about current best practices for blind/vision impaired students
• Provide direct instruction to blind/vision impaired students to support IEP goals in the following areas – auditory skills, vocabulary, language development and reading
• Monitor students’ progress in academic subjects and provide instruction in compensatory skills as needed in the areas the students may have difficulty with as a result of the vision impairment. (This does not include tutoring in subject areas once materials and methods have been modified to accommodate the vision loss)
• Provide direct instruction in Braille reading and writing
• Provide direct instruction in use of low vision devices; abacus, typing/keyboarding, adaptive devices (e.g. computers, note takers, tape recorders), listening skills, visual efficiency, concept development, daily living/self‑help skills, career readiness, leisure and recreation skills, social skills, organizational and study skills, and self‑advocacy
• Participate in IEP/ETR meetings for students served; coordinate planning for instructional and behavioral strategies with the IEP team
• Assist in modifications of the educational environment for students who are blind/vision impaired
• Participates in school Intervention Assistance Team meetings on request
• Provide in‑services to school personnel and members of the community regarding the needs of blind/vision impaired students
• Acts as resource person for classroom teachers regarding strategies, adaptations, assessments and resource materials for blind/vision impaired students
• Maintain accurate and complete student records and records of provided services; prepare and submit all required reports
• Seek opportunities to improve skills and grow professionally; attend all required meetings and in‑services

Based on salary schedule and/or commensurate with experience and education

See attached job description for full position details.