Teacher - SPED Visually Impaired

Primary Purpose:

The itinerant teacher for students with visual impairments travels to the students' assigned schools/homes to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to vision loss. These services enable the students to learn in a variety of settings. Services for infants may be provided in the infants' homes or childcare settings. The students range in age from birth through 21 and may have only a visual impairment or additional disabilities. The cognitive levels of the students range from severely impaired to gifted and talented.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor's degree from accredited university

• Valid Texas teaching certificate with required endorsements or required training for subject and level assigned

• Demonstrated competency in the core academic subject area assigned

• Texas certification for teachers of students with visual impairments.

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Knowledge of core academic subject assigned
• General knowledge of curriculum and instruction
• Ability to instruct students and manage behavior
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Assessment and Evaluation

1. Perform functional vision and learning media assessments on new referrals and three-year re-evaluations using identified standardized assessment protocol
2. Interpret eye medical reports as they relate to educational environments
3. Contribute to the development of the IEP/IFSP with goals, modifications, learning styles.
4. Recommend appropriate specialized evaluations as needed, such as low vision, orientation and mobility, psycho-social, and adaptive physical education
5. Consult with assessment staff, classroom teachers, students, and parents concerning appropriate evaluations, modification, and test administration
6. Obtain modified standardized testing materials and assist in the administration of the test as needed (STAAR, NAPT, ITBS, TAAS, SAT, ACT) and administer or
7. Work as liaison with other agencies in the vocational assessment process
8. Participate in team assessments for students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities
9. Provide screening and referral procedures to appropriate personnel.

Appropriate Learning Environment

1. Assist in determining and procuring classroom equipment and materials necessary for the student with visual impairments to learn (brailler, low vision devices, assistive technology, computer) including ensuring necessary room modifications and lighting changes
2. Provide the classroom teacher with information regarding the specialized strategies needed to teach a VI student
3. Consult with other instructional staff to provide information to incorporate the expanded core curriculum into the entire instructional setting
4. Provide modified materials to the classroom teacher
5. Provide braille, recorded/enlarged materials, and tactual symbols as appropriate for each child.

Direct Instruction in the Unique Curriculum

1. Monitoring the 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 visual impairment
2. Braille reading and writing
3. Low vision devices
4. Abacus
5. Typing/keyboarding
6. Adaptive devices (e.g., computers, note takers, tape recorders)
7. Listening skills
8. Visual efficiency
9. Concept development (especially for infants and early childhood students)
10. Daily living/self-help skills
11. Career readiness
12. Leisure and recreation skills
13. Social skills
14. Organizational and study skills
15. Self-advocacy.

Support Services

1. Provide assistance to students with visual impairments in understanding their attitudes and those of others concerning their visual impairment
2. Facilitate social integration and interaction with peers
3. Provide training and support to parents of students with visual impairments to enhance their children's independence
4. Provide the teachers, staff, and family of students with visual impairment with information regarding their individual needs, methodology, and strategies
5. Participate with other school personnel and agencies to secure job-related experiences for students
6. Participate in transition planning.

Administrative/Record Keeping Duties

1. Provide updated pupil information (VI registration, deafblind census, textbook projections)
2. Submit requests for instructional materials, conferences, field trips, and personnel needs
3. Inform various special education/campus personnel and parents of progress through IEP progress reports each 6
4. Identify and set up a work and storage space at each school to be used by the VI teacher to instruct students as necessary
5. Provide input into students' schedules, planning for all special services, such as direct instruction and orientation and mobility
6. Maintain adequate record of all assessments, IEPs, ARD papers, progress reports and signed parental release forms for things such as photographs and registration with various agencies
7. Provide 6-week progress reports as indicated by school policy on all students with visual impairment and follow up with teacher and/or parent conferences as appropriate
8. Prepare paperwork as appropriate and attend ARDs and IFSP meetings on students with visual impairments
9. Distribute information to parents concerning workshops, conferences, and equipment acquisition
10. Communicate with low-vision specialists, ophthalmologists, and optometrists concerning exams, and attend exams when appropriate

Liaison Between Community and School

1. Provide information about district and/or regional vision programs to the schools and community.
2. Provide information concerning recreational and summer programs to parents and students and assist with application forms and procedures. Such activities might include Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired summer school, Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (formerly known as Texas Commission for the Blind) summer work programs, or Lion's Club Summer Camp.

Professional Standards

1. Maintain a reference library.
2. Acquire information about current research, development, and technology by attending conferences, workshops, and area meetings and by reading journals in the field of visual impairment.
3. Attend professional development activities related to identified educational needs of assigned students.

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.

The Abilene ISD does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Employment decisions will be made on the basis of each applicant's job qualifications, experience, and abilities.