Job Posting - Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher

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Iowa Department for the Blind

Iowa Department for the Blind logo

Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher 

Education and Training Division
Location: Des Moines, IA 
Salary Minimum: $51,292.80
Salary Maximum: $78,124.80
Job Type:  Full-time
Agency:  131 Iowa Department for the Blind
Job Number: 22-022939
Post Close Date:  April 4, 2022
Point of Contact:  Helen Stevens

To Apply: 
Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services – Human Resources Enterprise. Persons who wish to be considered for this position must submit a resume and letter of application to: Helen Stevens Education and Training Director, Iowa Department for the Blind, 524 4th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-2364. helen.stevens@blind.state.ia.us


Job Description:

 

This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department for the Blind. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise. 


The Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking energetic and passionate applicants for a position that will promote IDB’s mission, vision, and values through teaching blindness skills to teens and adults across Iowa. As a member of a team of eight teachers, this position will be based in Des Moines and travel multiple days per week to serve roughly twenty-five clients in a section of the state. Ideal candidates will possess a strong teaching ability, solid organization and time management skills, and a belief in the capacity of blind persons. IDB can provide training in the specific blindness skills areas listed if needed.
 
Duties and responsibilities to include the following:

  • Teach blindness skills, including but not limited to braille, cane travel, home and personal management, and access technology, to vocational rehabilitation clients, individually and in groups. 
  • Provide regular written reports documenting training and communicate regularly with vocational rehabilitation counselors regarding client progress and concerns. 
  • Evaluate the skill level and training needs of vocational rehabilitation clients. 
  • Provide reports documenting strengths, weaknesses and training recommendations to clients, counselors, and IEP teams as appropriate.
  • Assist in developing and implementing group trainings for vocational rehabilitation clients to maximize client learning and engagement and most effectively utilize staff time.
  • Assist in developing assessments and training curricula for use with clients.
  • Assist in developing and provide training to service providers including paraprofessionals, in working with blind persons in a manner that supports skill development and fosters independence.

 Essential functions of this position:

  • Produce clear written reports on client training sessions.
  • Read and write contracted braille.
  • Teach clients to utilize the contracted braille code proficiently, including the use of English grammar, spelling and sentence structure.
  • Independently travel (using a long white cane under sleep shades).
  • Teach clients to travel using a long white cane.

 Experience teaching blindness skills preferred.
 
It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment.
 
For further information, contact Helen Stevens, 515-829-7411 or helen.stevens@blind.state.ia.us

 

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing or business and experience equal to three years of full time professional work;

OR

the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a rehabilitation counselor or teacher shall be considered as qualifying provided the employee has successfully completed training to meet the certification criteria established by the agency;

OR

an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time professional work experience for each year of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years.  

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)

 

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