Blind Rehab Specialist

at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in North Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Summary The VIST Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs, and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program at FHCC. The VIST Coordinator has major responsibility for the coordination of all services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members for their families through the Visual Impairment Service Team. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to: The VIST Coordinator is responsible for follow-up of Veterans returning from the VA Blind Rehab Center at American Lake, Washington. VIST Coordinators are responsible for: – Outreach and Education including:-Developing a cache of educational materials, in a variety of media, that can be utilized to help achieve VIST outreach goals and objectives – Providing in-service educational classes for VA and non-VA agencies and personnel- Seeking to improve others’ awareness with regard to blindness issues – Utilizing developed methodologies to identify Veterans who are eligible for VIST program services, to include identifying visually impaired or legally blind Veterans from medical center diagnosis codes in the electronic medical record – Educating VA medical center staff on the functional implications of vision loss and on blind rehabilitation matters such as VERA requirements for documentation of legally blind Veterans. VIST Coordinators are case managers for all eligible Veterans who have visual impairments requiring blind rehabilitation services. Other duties include: – The coordination and overview of all of the Veteran’s visual impairment rehabilitation needs – Determining the intensity of services based upon clinical judgment and the Veteran’s goals – Flagging VIST-eligible Veterans’ patient records so that the medical center staff who access patients’ records electronically are alerted to the Veteran’s visual status. VIST Coordinators assess, treat, plan, and follow up on treatment for visually impaired Veterans.This includes: – Performing assessments to establish Veterans’ needs as they relate to the continuum of vision and rehabilitation treatment services – Referring Veterans to the appropriate service component in the continuum of care for visually impaired Veterans – Developing focused treatment plans containing goals to meet the Veterans’ needs – Providing follow-up for rehabilitation services VIST Coordinators may develop, implement, and oversee special programs for visually impaired Veterans such as the local provision of computer equipment and training. The VIST Coordinator maintains effective communication with all of the BRS field elements to maximize Veterans’ blind and vision rehabilitation outcomes. The VIST Coordinator provides eligible Veterans on the VIST roster with an initial benefits review and subsequent annual benefits reviews thereafter. The VIST Coordinator must be knowledgeable with respect to all VA and non-VA benefits that may serve to enhance the lives of qualified Veterans. Additionally, the VIST Coordinator may assist the Veterans in initiating action to apply for benefits. VIST Coordinators are also aware of Veterans Service Organizations that assist Veterans with regard to the acquisition of benefits, and the VIST Coordinator may refer a Veteran to one or more of these agencies The VIST Coordinator assists the Veteran and their family members with the issues surrounding the emotional adjustment aspects of blindness. The VIS Team and VIST Coordinator may draw on their own professional expertise to personally assist the Veteran and the Veteran’s family members in this process, or the VIST Coordinator may make a referral to an appropriate clinician to assist. The VIST Coordinator may recommend issuance of prosthetic equipment for blind and visually impaired Veterans in accordance with VHA policies. If the issuance of a prosthetic item is deemed appropriate, and subsequently approved, the VIST Coordinator may make arrangements to provide training on the aid by professional qualified personnel in order to assure that the Veteran is able to appropriately use, care for, and maintain the prosthetic device prior to the initiation of a Prosthetic Request. The full-time VIST Coordinator may convene and facilitate a support group for Veterans and Service members with visual impairment and their families or may partner with another entity to provide such support. This may include the use of Telehealth communications for Veterans through other VA Outpatient clinics. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am – 4:00pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: US 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 able to speak and write in English. Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education OR A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (1)(a) above) 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). One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 – 18 semester hours). A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree. 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: (1) Applicants 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, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilit