Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Provides direct patient care and supports services to an adult population of Veterans with severe visual impairment or blindness.
• Provides individual evaluation, treatment and management of blind and vision rehabilitation program of instruction that teaches Veterans with visual impairments to utilize adaptive skills and techniques necessary to cope with the demands of everyday life.
• Documents Veteran assessment, training, interdisciplinary team meetings and any other relevant clinical information in the Veteran's computerized health record following VA and BRC guidelines.
• Develops treatment plans in conjunction with an interdisciplinary team to improve the quality of life for blind and visually impaired Veterans.
• Works with family members and/or significant others to provide education about sight loss.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/08/2019.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency- Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j.
• Basic Education Requirement- When applying for positions with an Education Requirement you MUST provide official or unofficial transcripts which state a degree was conferred in the appropriate field and you must provide any additional information to support you have met the Education Requirement. (Copies of Degrees or course listings are not adequate information to meet the education requirement). To qualify for this position you must possess:

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, a related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, technology and industrial arts education, or health care; OR
2. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university that included or was supplemented by at least one of the following:At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university). AND/OR One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15-18 semester hours).A certificate in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy or low vision therapy from an accredited college or university and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree.
3. Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in Blind Rehabilitation.

• Certification Requirement- Required at GS-11 and above.

1. Must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, related professional credential in special education, rehabilitation or health care. If all certifications are impaired, the individual is ineligible for appointment in VA. NOTE: The ACVREP administers three certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. Once certification candidates are approved, they receive an official letter of acceptance, a certificate, and a logo pin. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold.
2. Blind Rehabilitation Specialists who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows:Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®).Communication and daily living therapy (formerly Rehabilitation Teaching) - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®).Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®).

GS-11 - Completion of one (1) full year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09) to include providing direct patient care and support services to individuals with severe visual impairment or blindness and developing treatment plans to improve the quality of life for blind and visually impaired patients; OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Doctoral Degree; OR Doctoral Degree in Blind Rehabilitation or a directly related field. (This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable).

In addition, you must demonstrate the following GS-09 level KSAs:
1. Knowledge of policies and procedures of the blind/vision rehabilitation service.
2. Knowledge of administration and interpretation of assessments and evaluations in blind/vision rehabilitation.
3. Ability to develop a basic written blind/vision rehabilitation plan from assessment results and develop more complex plans with consultation from supervisor.
4. Skill in instructing patients and families in a meaningful rehabilitation program and applying blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic techniques.
5. Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision prosthetic devices for patients within the scope of practice.
6. Ability to serve as team coordinator for assigned patients during their rehabilitation programs.

In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-9 level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following professional KSAs:
1. Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation.
2. Ability to properly assess a wide variety of patients having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions.
3. Ability to write a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes.
4. Knowledge of teaching methods and learning principles.
5. Ability to employ interventions, unusual motivational techniques and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan.
6. Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for patients within scope of practice, making adaptations and modifications as required.
7. Ability to plan, direct, and distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants and, interns and/or BRSs at lower grade levels and perform assigned mentoring duties for staff, students, and interns.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G41, Blind Rehabilitation Specialist.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring exertion such as standing, ascending and descending stairs, or walking for up to two continuous hours; frequent bending; reaching above the shoulder, medium lifting and carrying (up to 40 pounds), pushing or pulling objects. The work requires the ability to cope with a variety and complexity of situations due to the diversity of patients, duties and responsibilities. The work requires pushing veterans in wheelchairs on a regular basis.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.