Orientation & Mobility Specialist

The Maryland School for the Blind has two openings for Orientation & Mobility Specialist, as soon as this school year!
***Now offering a $2500 retention bonus!***

New grads, seasoned COMS, and anyone in between are encouraged to apply!

SUMMARY : With supervision, provides Orientation and Mobility services to children birth - 21 years of age and/or adult clients.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions:

1.  Evaluates, develops educational programs based on Orientation and Mobility (O&M) curriculum, implements instruction, monitors and reports on student (IEP) O&M programs on and off campus throughout the State of Maryland. 
2. Conducts in-service training programs on individual and group basis and disseminates O&M information to others.
3. Acts as an active department member, sharing responsibilities and workload.
4. Participates in necessary school and student meetings and completes related paperwork, adhering to established deadlines, using proper punctuation, spelling and grammar.
5. Transports students in personal vehicle to training sites.
6. Stands and walks frequently, for lengthy periods of time; pushes and pulls in excess of 100 pounds and lifts up to 50 pounds without assistance; physically handles and assists other persons in the performance of daily living activities.
7. Speaks clearly and effectively with students, parents and colleagues.
8. Evaluate and teach all forms of public transportation.

CONDITIONS:

Equipment Used: A variety of canes and adaptive mobility devices, a variety of low vision devices, iPad, smartphones & apps, recording systems, GPS devices, Braille writer, map making equipment, vehicle, keyboard/computer equipment.

Performance Standard: Must assume 100% commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary service delivery model. Must assume 100% commitment to work with parents. Must also assure compliance with all health, safety, and program standards.

Work Environment: Multiple indoor and outdoor environments on and off campus with varying sound, lighting, and temperature conditions.

Work Schedule: 35 day/evening hours per week with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break; flextime within the workday is frequently required. This position follows the standard ten-month school schedule (with the additional requirement to cover summer programming, if needed).

Pay Rate: $50,143 - $101,182 (30 hour per week position) or $60,000 - $119,522 (35 hour per week position) and commensurate with education & experience, in keeping with the MSB Teachers & Related Service Providers Pay Scale. Relocation reimbursement available for qualified candidates, as well as a retention bonus of $2500 after one year of service.

About MSB

• Collaborate closely with other related service providers! Work as a member of a multidisciplinary team of professionals including Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Behavior Specialists, Teachers, Paraeducators, Child and Youth Care Specialists, Recreation Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Music Therapists and more.
• Work with an amazing, unique population of students! Don’t let a lack of experience working with this population stop you. MSB provides ongoing support and training opportunities on visual impairments while you serve on campus programs including the Early Learning Program, Autism Blind Program, Multiple Disabilities Blind Program, General Academic Program, and Functional Academic Program with students ranging in age from 3-21 with a variety of special needs and visual impairments.
• See Beyond! There are abundant and flexible opportunities to work with students to increase functional potential and independence in and out of the classroom, during day and evening/residential programming, during transition and vocational experiences and in the community and home settings.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package! This includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 403(b) retirement savings plan, professional development, wellness programs, generous paid time off, and tuition reimbursement!

QUALIFICATIONS :

1. Requires a minimum of O&M Certification by a recognized University Program or Bachelor's Degree in O&M; is ACVREP certified or certifiable* in the field of Orientation & Mobility. (*ACVREP Certification must be obtained by the beginning of the 2nd year.)
2. Comprehensive knowledge of O&M techniques and teaching approaches and their application to the instruction of students with multiple disabilities and visual impairments/blindness.
3. General knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the eye including eye diseases and conditions.
4. Valid driver’s license and clean driving record required. Business insurance is required within first month of employment.

After six months in this position, the employee is required to have:

1. General knowledge and application of departmental responsibilities, philosophies, and expectations.
2. General knowledge and application of MSB related paperwork.
3. Comprehensive knowledge of assigned students' O&M program needs.
4. Certification in TCI and First Aid/CPR (provided by MSB).
5. Ability to cope with problems in the focused area of responsibility, and to determine when to refer non-routine problems to supervisor.

Steps in the Recruitment Process:

1. Submit your application.
2. If you meet the qualifications for the position, you will receive an email from our Recruiter to set up a phone screen.
3. Candidates who successfully complete the phone screen will be shared with the Hiring Manager/s for review.
4. Selected candidates will be contacted to set up 1-2 in person interviews with the Hiring Manager, usually including a campus tour and/or classroom observation (if applicable).
5. Hiring Managers make hiring recommendations.
6. Recruiter contacts selected candidates to make conditional job offers. (Employment is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements, including but not limited to: background check, physical, drug screen, TB tests, and reference checks.) **Please be advised that the MSB drug screen includes a screen for marijuana. MSB reserves the right to deny employment based on a positive drug screen in accordance with its drug testing policy and in accordance with applicable law.