Job Overview

The Special Education Teacher for Orientation and Mobility (O&M) is responsible for orienting staff and training staff to follow through on appropriate safe travel skills within the classroom and school. In addition, Special Education Teacher for O&M serves as a resource to parents of students who are Blind/Visually Impaired as well as to staff who work with students who are Blind/Visually Impaired. 

Roles and Responsibilities

The following information is intended to describe the overall nature and scope of the work being performed. This is not a comprehensive listing of all responsibilities or tasks; work may differ and other work may be assigned when deemed appropriate.

• Conducts orientation and mobility evaluations that focus on the long- and short-term needs of the student for new referrals and at intervals as designated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Contributes to appropriate portions of the IEP, such as present levels, goals, accommodations, and services as they relate to orientation and mobility.
• Participates in IEP meetings and other related meetings when requested.
• Prepares lessons for students assigned based on their orientation and mobility needs and shows written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor.
• Meets and instructs assigned students in the locations and at times designated; encourages students to set and maintain standards of appropriate behavior.
• Evaluates student progress on an ongoing basis, maintains data to show students' progress toward IEP goals, and contributes to appropriate portions of students' progress reports.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, District policy, and administrative regulation.
• Uses effective techniques to teach students to travel with proficiency, safety, and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments in accordance with their IEPs.
• Ensures student safety during O&M instruction and in other environments while fostering maximum independence during O&M lessons.
• Prepares and uses equipment and materials, such as tactile maps, models, optical devices, pre-canes, GPS devices, and long canes for the development of O&M skills.
• Provides orientation of new buildings and new class schedules to students who are Blind/Visually Impaired, as needed, including those community settings where students receive instruction.
• Provides instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) as it relates to orientation and mobility.
• Strives to further professional knowledge and skills through participation in workshops, classes, professional meetings, and interaction with professional colleagues.
• Works to establish and maintain open lines of communication with students, parents, and staff.
• Works with the teacher of students with visual impairments to conduct the functional vision assessment as it relates to independent travel.
• Follows established LCPS procedures for orientation and mobility lessons in the community
• Demonstrates knowledge of LCPS employment rules and regulations

Qualifications

Below are the minimum qualifications for this job. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are also acceptable.

     Education

      Bachelor’s Degree required

     Experience

      Demonstrated successful teaching experience

     Licenses and Certifications

• Holds or is eligible for a Virginia teaching license with an endorsement in Visual Impairments PreK-12 or Certification as Orientation and Mobility Instructor required
• Certification from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) or the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) strongly preferred

     Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of (or ability to learn) Braille, assistive technology, and strategies for teaching students who are blind/visually impaired
• Demonstrated knowledge of child development in addition to content, curriculum, methods, materials, and equipment of instructional specialty(ies) to which assigned
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional programs
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers, administrators, and parents
• Demonstrated skill in oral and written communications
• Excellent human relations skills

Physical Requirements

The following provides a brief description of physical requirements for this job:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly talking, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. The employee must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. The employee must possess normal cognitive abilities including the ability to learn, recall and apply certain practices and policies. Frequently sitting and/or remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

Reports to: Supervisor, Special Education

FLSA Status: Exempt

Months/Days/Hours: 10 months/ 197 days/ 7 hours

Salary Level: Licensed Salary Scale

Salary Scale: https://www.lcps.org/compensation