Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Education/Certification Required:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree from an approved orientation and mobility preparation program.
• Certified as Orientation and Mobility Specialist by the Association of Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Familiar with assessment procedures for children
• Ability to design a program to be implemented as part of an educational program
• Works as a member of the educational team

Technology Proficiency: Level 2- Proficient (in):

• Applied use of computer operations
• Applied use of software productivity tools (i.e., Microsoft Office)
• Applied use of e-mail
• Applied use of printers
• Applied use of job-related financial and student management systems
• Applied use of multimedia tools
• Applied use of electronic file management
• Applied use of Technology Applications TEKS CC/SD Acceptable Use Policy and Technology Ethics/Etiquette

Experience:

• Completed internship in Orientation and Mobility.

Function

The Orientation & Mobility Specialist evaluates, plans, and implements an orientation and mobility training program. Enables students to develop age appropriate independent travel skills at school and in the community.

Reports To:

Director for Special Education

Reponsibilities:

Instructional Management

• Works with campus staff to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate instructional programs on a systematic basis to ensure that each is responsive to student and parent needs.
• Utilizes program outcomes (individualized Education Program (IEP), mastery percentage mainstreamed, Least Restrictive Environment (LRE» for corrective action, programmatic improvement, and recognition of success.
• Provides and coordinates instructional resources and materials programmatically to campus special education staff to support instructional goals of specific students.
• Recommends appropriate placement of special education students for instructional purposes at the campus and district levels.
• Demonstrates effective instructional strategies and techniques to improve student success.

School/Organizational Climate

• Communicates and promotes high expectations for special education staff and students.
• Promotes use of positive discipline management plan to special education settings.
• Recognizes/Rewards special education staff, regular education staff, campus health personnel and student's accomplishments in a variety of ways.
• Facilitates conflict resolution through the use of effective communication skills.

School/Organizational Improvement

• Assists at the departmental level in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of special education policies, programs, and curriculum.
• Utilizes information systems to monitor special education students' progress as the basis for school program improvement (e.g., attendance, IEP mastery, etc.).
• Assesses periodically (by written progress reports) attainment of special education students' IEP objectives identified for direct service students.
• Analyzes campus daily schedules and recommends to principals alternative schedules to distribute special education contact hours evenly throughout the instructional day.

Administrative and Fiscal/Facilities Management

• Ensures students are coded accurately on Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) service page for monitoring purposes.
• Monitors the use and storage of materials and equipment to comply with state/federal laws and regulations.

Student Management

• Cooperates with principals, staff, and parents in identifying and solving school and student issues.
• Facilitates delivery of support services to students (e.g., family counseling, special health needs, etc.).
• Demonstrates effective instructional classroom strategies and techniques for improving program management.
• Conducts conferences with parents, students, and teachers concerning program, school, and student issues. Attends ARD and other appropriate meetings.
• Works cooperatively with staff at the District level to facilitate appropriate placement.

School/Community Relations

• Interacts with public and private organizations to enable special education students and staff to access a variety of services.
• Promotes positive staff and community relations through effective dissemination of information.
• Communicates clearly the District's special education programs, goals, and new directions to parents and community to solicit their support.
• Responds to the concerns of parents and the community in a timely manner.

Professional Growth and Development

• Performs duties in a professional, ethical, and responsible manner.
• Participates in available employee development activities.
• Uses information provided through evaluative feedback to improve performance.
• Assumes responsibility for acquiring knowledge and skills necessary for fulfilling job duties and improving leadership skills. Attends required continuing education programs and conferences to maintain orientation and mobility certification.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Ability to interact as a positive member of an educational team and to make presentations to groups.
• In acceptable good health to walk several miles and to access stairs and other environmental obstacle
• Ability to travel district-wide to access many schools and to reach training sites with the students.
• Regular District-wide travel
• Moderate lifting and carrying
• Ability to receive information and/or instruction from internal/external customers through spoken expression.
• Ability to manipulate tools/equipment/keyboards.
• Ability to convey information and/or instruction to internal/external customers through spoken expression.
• Ability to perform work while standing and/or walking for extended periods, up to eight (8) hours a day.
• Ability to see detailed information, naturally or with correction.

The foregoing statements describe the general purposes and responsibilities assigned to the job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that may be required.