JOB DESCRIPTION:  This employee is responsible for organizing and implementing an instructional program for visually impaired students and meeting the duties of teaching as outlined in laws and policies.

 

Duties of this position include but are not limited to:

 

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

• Perform Functional Vision and Learning Media Assessments on new referrals and three year re-evaluations.
• Obtain and interpret eye/medical reports as they relate to educational environments.
• Contribute to the development of the IEP, such as goals, modifications, and learning styles.
• Recommend appropriate specialized evaluations, as needed, such as low vision, orientation and mobility, psychological, and adaptive PE.
• Consult with diagnostician, classroom teachers, counselors, students and parents concerning appropriate evaluations, modifications, and test administration.
• Obtain modified standardized testing material and assist in the administration or administer the test as needed.
• Work as liaison with other agencies in vocational assessment process.
• Administer various other tests as appropriate.

APPROPRIATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

• Provide and set up all necessary equipment and materials in the students' classroom for the VI student to learn (brailler, low vision devices, computers, etc.)  Assist in insuring necessary room modifications and lighting changes.
• Provide the classroom teacher with information regarding the unique needs of the VI child in their classroom.
• Provide the classroom teacher with information regarding methodology and strategies in teaching a VI student.
• Provide information to the student's classmates about the student's vision loss through class presentations, demonstrations, materials, and professional learning as appropriate.
• Modify materials and provide to the classroom teacher.
• Provide Braille, recorded/enlarged materials as appropriate for each child.
• Prepare, implement and evaluate an annual educational plan.

Direct Instruction in the Unique Curriculum

 

Monitor the students' progress in academic subjects and provide instruction in compensatory skills as needed in the areas the student may have difficulty with as a result of his/her visual impairment

• Braille reading and writing
• Low vision aids
• Abacus
• Typing/Keyboarding
• Adaptive devices (computers, note takers, tape recorders, etc.)
• Listening skills
• Visual Efficiency
• Concept development (especially for infants and early childhood students)
• Daily living/self-help skills
• Career readiness
• Leisure and recreation skills
• Social skills
• Organizational and study skills
• Self advocacy

Supportive Services

• Provide assistance to the student with visual impairments in understanding their attitudes and those of others concerning their visual impairment.
• Provide information to the student about their vision loss.
• Participate in graduation and transition planning.  Assist students in working with various agencies to find part-time and summer jobs.

Administrative/Record Keeping Duties

• Provide updated pupil information (VI registration, textbook projections, etc.).
• Provide screening and referral procedures to appropriate personnel.
• Submit requests for instructional materials, conferences, field trips, and personnel needs.
• Provide in service and consultation to classroom teachers concerning visually impaired student in their classrooms and possible referrals.
• Inform various special education and campus personnel of progress and needs of the student with visual impairments on a regular basis.
• Identify and set up a work and storage space at each school.
• Provide input into student's schedules, keeping in mind all special services such as direct vision instruction and orientation and mobility.
• Maintain required records of all assessments, IEP's, ARC's progress reports, and signed parental release forms for things such as photographs and registration with various agencies.
• Do quarterly progress checks on students with visual impairments in regular education classes and follow up with teacher an/or parent conferences as appropriate.
• Provide progress reports to parents.
• Register student with appropriate agencies such as Recording for the Blind, KIRMC, and Commission for the Blind.
• Arrange and prepare paperwork as appropriate and attend all ARC's on students with visual impairments.
• Distribute information to parents concerning workshops, conferences, material/equipment acquisition, etc.
• Communicate with low vision specialist, ophthalmologists, and optometrists concerning eye exams and attend exams when appropriate.
• Supervise material preparations and acquisition.

Liaison between Community and School

• Provide information about the district vision program to the schools and community.
• Provide information concerning recreational and summer programs to parents and students and assist with application forms and procedures.  Such activities may include Kentucky School for the Blind Summer School.
• Be knowledgeable about community funding available for the VI students.

Professional Standards

• Maintain a reference library of current professional materials.
• Acquire information about current research, development and technology by attending conferences, workshops and area meetings and by reading journals in the field of visual impairment.
• All other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.