The Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation (VISOR) Program provides comprehensive, individualized patient instructional programs designed to increase independence and improve the quality of life for veterans and active-duty service members who have a visual impairment.
The program offers adaptive training in low vision living skills, communications, leisure and manual skills, computer access, technology, and orientation and mobility to help them manage life with vision loss.
This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), VA Medical Center Richmond, VA, Surgical Service, Ophthalmology Section, and VISOR Section (Advanced Outpatient Blind Rehabilitation.) The incumbent is a Living Skills (LS) Specialist in the VISOR Program, which serves both Medical Center patients and patients referred from the Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN).
Major duties include, but not limited to: The incumbent is responsible for functioning as a full member of the Rehabilitation Team that includes Optometry, Ophthalmology, Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinators (VIST), Vision and Blind Rehabilitation Specialists, Audiology, Social Work, Rehabilitation Medicine Service (i.e. OT/PT/KT) and other related disciplines. The team is responsible for the total rehabilitation process of assigned patients.
This includes acting as the Lead Therapist on assigned cases, evaluating patient needs, counseling, developing a plan of care, as well as individualized living skills treatment goals, implementing the plan, and recommending prosthetic issuance.
The incumbent also evaluates new technology, provides and receives cross training instruction for other Blind Rehabilitation Specialists in low vision and blindness, and develops instructional material that can be utilized by any member of the team.
Evaluates the patient's level of living skills: instruct techniques of reading and writing basic and advanced braille, script writing, and typing (both manual and electronic), instruct written communications, financial management including the use of talking calculators, abacus and braille mathematics code, adaptive listening and recording techniques, instruct all aspects of activities of daily living (including organization and time management, housekeeping, personal grooming, food preparation and kitchen management) and coordinate and instruct leisure time activities.
The incumbent must keep abreast of the latest technology and instruction related to the living skills curricula. The Living Skills Instructor will also recommend appropriate prosthetic devices to be issued in accordance with national and local VHA standards and guidelines. Directly involved in deciding and justifying whether to issue or withhold issuance of prosthetic equipment.
When participating in approved research activities, the incumbent is responsible for following all applicable research compliance and assurance policies and in contributing to the production of research results of high integrity. Interpreting documentation on assigned patients prior to scheduling assessment.
Interpreting evaluations, assessments, medical, and other appropriate professional documentation on an on-going basis during the patient's rehabilitation program Assisting in the evaluation of new devices and techniques for inclusion into the team curriculum, helping to evaluate new aids and prosthetic devices relevant to living skills, and collaborating with research when requested.
Keeping abreast of current literature, instructing strategies and technological advances specific to living skills, dual sensory loss, and sharing this information with other staff. Preparing, presenting and demonstrating living skills aids and treatment techniques to clinical trainees, patient family members/caregivers, VA personnel, community agency representatives, and others as appropriate.
Serving as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team for all patients assigned to the team . Performing other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Nerissa.Mckinnie@va.gov · 706-434-9315
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $78009 – $101417/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-13.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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