Special Education Blind/Visually Impaired Teacher (2024-25 and present)

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION OF UNIT

Provides comprehensive services addressing student needs for specialized intervention, medical management, and / or assistive technology to address deficits in the area of visual impairments.

Additionally, provides orientation and mobility services when specified.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

The Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) has the following roles and responsibilities :

• Has primary responsibility for specialized instruction and services required to meet the unique educational needs of visually impaired students
• Assists the student, parents, special and general education personnel, and the student's sighted peers inunderstanding the unique educational needs and learning characteristics of visually impaired students becoming aware of services and support available from local programs for visually impaired students acquiring information regarding local, state, and national resources for the education of visually impaired students interpreting the visually impaired student's specific eye condition, the educational implications of the visual impairment, and the results of functional vision learning media and assistive technology assessments
• Consults regularly with the classroom teacher, regular and special education personnel, parents, and others to coordinate programs, services, and instructional needs for the visually impaired student.
• Assists the site administrator and teachers in making environmental adjustments for the student in the school.
• Assures that large-type or Braille texts, supplementary materials, educational aids, and equipment needed by the visually impaired student, and the classroom teacher, are provided in a timely manner to ensure the student's maximum participation in all classroom activities (appropriate educational materials may be prepared or adapted by the TVI, or they may be obtained from educational, clerical, or transcriber services.)
• Provides instruction in the development and maintenance of skills to meet the student's unique educational needs in the following areas, as indicated in the IEP : low vision and visual efficiency skills concept development & sensory motor skills daily living skills career and vocational education skills academic skills (including Braille as appropriate) social and communication skills appropriate assistive technology for blind and low vision students
• Prepares and implements sequential and meaningful instruction based on the student's assessed needs.
• Conducts initial and ongoing functional vision, learning media, and assistive technology assessments and produces written reports.
• Provides support to the assessment team regarding the unique needs of the blind and visually impaired student
• Attends IEP meetings for students with visual impairments.
• Maintains ongoing contact with parents to assist them in the development of a realistic understanding of their child's abilities, progress, and future goals.
• Provides in-service training programs for school personnel and students as well as education for parents regarding the needs of visually impaired students, adaptations, programs, and services.
• Makes available pamphlets, films, and other materials that may be useful in developing realistic and unprejudiced attitudes toward visually impaired students.
• Coordinates with other pertinent community resources, as needed, based on the individual student’s needs.
• Acquires information and training about current research, development, and technology.

The Orientation and Mobility Specialist has the following roles and responsibilities : (This is an additional certification area)

• Instructs the visually impaired student in the development of skills and knowledge that enable him or her to travel independently, based on assessed needs and ability.
• Teaches the visually impaired student to travel with proficiency, safety, and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments.
• Consults regularly with sighted peers, parents, classroom teachers, physical education teachers, and / or other special education personnel to assist in home and classroom environmental modifications, adaptations, and considerations and to ensure reinforcement of appropriate O&M skills that will encourage the visually impaired student to travel independently in these settings.
• Conducts assessments that focus on both long and short-term needs of the student.
• Provides and documents sequential and meaningful instruction geared to the student's assessed needs, IEP goals and objectives, functioning, and motivational levels.
• Prepares and uses equipment and materials for the development of O&M skills.
• Evaluates the student's progress on an ongoing basis with progress reports as required.
• Provides in-service training to regular and special education personnel, sighted peers, and parents concerning the O&M needs of the student and appropriate methods and procedures for interacting with the visually impaired person that will foster maximum independence and safety.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND CERTIFICATION :

• Bachelor's degree in education related field
• Master's degree in related field
• New York State Licensure in Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Orientation & Mobility Certification from ACVREP
30+ days ago