In the Board of Education and Services for the Blind this class is accountable for providing specialized services in the teaching and counseling of the blind and visually impaired clients with an emphasis on providing independent living skills.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Works under the general supervision of an employee of higher grade.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
May supervise Special Assistants to the Blind.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
Under close supervision interviews clients to obtain information regarding effects of blindness on life skills and activities and to determine client limitations; develops instructional plan based on needs of individual client; evaluates and teaches independent living skills to clients at home, work, school and community center; instructs and evaluates blind, visually impaired and multi-disabled persons in communication skills such as Braille, reading, writing, typewriting, use of adaptive technology and methods of communicating with deaf-blind persons; instructs and evaluates blind persons in various daily life skills and activities including leisure time; counsels and provides information regarding using and obtaining special aids and assistive devices; provides advise to families of the blind regarding ways of assisting the blind; reports needs for eye care or other special services to appropriate resources; consults with rehabilitation and casework staff in order to evaluate client needs; confers with other staff and works cooperatively with other agencies regarding cases; maintains case records on assigned caseload; performs related duties as required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY:
Knowledge of individual and group behavior; knowledge of methods and techniques of teaching the blind and visually impaired; knowledge of current education, social, health and economic problems and their relationship to working with the blind and visually impaired; knowledge of adaptive technology; knowledge of interviewing techniques; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to provide counseling and training to clients; ability to read and write Braille or translate printed material into Braille.
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
General Experience:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in education, social sciences, family and consumer science or in a related field.
This replaces the existing specification for the same class in the same Salary Group VR 99 approved effective January 11, 1980. (Revised to modify content)
