The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist provides assessment, treatment, and follow-up services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members. The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist possesses professional knowledge of, and skill in applying concepts, principles, and practices of in the Orientation and Mobility department and blind and vision rehabilitation to include assessment, treatment and follow-up.
The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist provides direct patient care and support services to an adult population of patients which is characterized by a very significant number of older male patients in the Orientation and Mobility Department. Review of demographic data discloses that the average age of a Central Blind Rehabilitation Center patient is 67.4 years with a distribution of 96% male and 4% female.
Within these broad categorizations, the employee must tailor patient care and support services to meet the needs of the individual patient. This includes the responsibility for assessment of each patient's needs and the delivery of services which are responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the extent possible.
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Evaluate and assess needs, capabilities, and limitations of individuals with blindness or visual impairment caused by injury or disease. Set goals and prescribe treatment plans as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting blind and visually impaired Veterans. Develop and coordinate the Veteran's Interdisciplinary Plan of Care (IPOC) with input from the Veteran, family, and all team members.
Independently evaluate, treat, and manage Blind and Vision Rehabilitation programs that teach adaptive skills and techniques for daily life. Address significant physical, emotional, and social challenges faced by Veterans. Identify and resolve visual and non-visual barriers resulting in activity limitations, participation restrictions, vocational losses, and psychological distress using diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.
Assess difficulties and barriers to treatment for Veterans with single or multiple disabilities and develop interventions to enhance rehabilitation. Build close rapport with assigned Veterans and develop treatment plans to foster personal independence, emotional stability, and integration into community, family, and environment.
Instruct Veterans on using remaining senses, protective techniques, and assistive devices for safe, efficient, and confident travel in various environments (indoor, residential, business, downtown, rural, public transportation, night travel, home area). Use and teach travel devices such as long canes, support canes, telescopic aids, sunglasses, walkers, and other mobility aids.
Assess Veterans' functional level in travel, medical, physical, psychosocial, and environmental contexts; determine goals and prescribe individualized programs. Instruct Veterans on emerging technologies including Adaptive Global Position Devices (GPS), Electronic Travel Aids (ETAs), and other orientation aids. Educate Veterans about guide dogs, assess suitability, recommend referrals to approved guide dog schools, and support VA prosthetic approval for guide dogs.
Work with family members and significant others to educate and counsel about the impact of visual impairment and teach strategies to cope with psychological and social challenges. Regularly serve as Team Coordinator for no more than two Veterans at a time, providing and documenting complex assessment, individualized planning, training progress, post-training skills, and recommendations.
Assume administrative responsibilities in the absence of the Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist to ensure continued rehabilitation services. Stay informed about new technological developments in the field through research and education. Serve as a subject matter expert to medical and allied health staff, providing counseling on blindness, visual impairment, and rehabilitation.
Obtain and maintain certification in the appropriate discipline of orientation and mobility in blind/vision rehabilitation. Perform other related duties as assigned. Requirement: Driving patients for training purposes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Suitable. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:02292F, 02328F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Salary Ranges: GS 09: $68,999 - $89,703 GS 11: $83,482 - $108,533
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/.
Tranea.Hayes@va.gov · 573-778-4447
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $68999 – $108533/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-30.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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