Orientation & Mobility Specialist

The Braille Institute is seeking an Orientation and Mobility Specialist for their Santa Barbara, CA (93105) and Laguna Hills, CA (92653) locations.

Who is Braille Institute?

Braille Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to positively transform the lives of those with vision loss. We offer a broad range of free programs, classes and services serving thousands of students of all ages helping to demonstrate that vision rehabilitation is a beginning, not an end.

We serve the community from seven centers, and hundreds of community outreach locations throughout Southern California, and lead popular national programs like Braille Challenge and Cane Quest. Our staff and volunteers understand losing your vision can be scary, but we believe it is not the end of independence but a new way of living.

About the role:

The Orientation and Mobility Specialist will conduct an initial and ongoing assessment of orientation and mobility skills for visually impaired individuals as well as identify and discuss mobility/travel goals and objectives;

Additional duties include:

• Determining and communicating the extent of training needed to achieve goals;
• Developing and documenting lesson plans;
• Documenting students’ progress using company data software;
• Scheduling students for Orientation & Mobility classes;
• Teaching students in the classroom, in the field, in the home setting and remotely online;
• Also, teaching balance/coordination to students as needed;
• Assuring that visually impaired individuals are able to travel safely, confidently, and efficiently;
• Conducting seminars and presentations in the community;
• Attending and participating in special events as required;
• Working in a standard office environment, classroom, in the field, including homes, public transportation community centers, and other outdoor training areas;
• Operating standard office equipment.

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Special Education with specialization in Orientation & Mobility;
• Strong knowledge of Orientation & Mobility training techniques and mobility devices for the visually impaired also required;
• At least one year of experience training visually impaired and/or disabled individuals is desirable;
• Good communication, training, time management, and organizational skills;
• The ability to work independently and effectively train the visually impaired to achieve their Orientation & Mobility goals is essential;
• Certification by the Academy of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP);
• Required to travel extensively throughout surrounding areas of Santa Barbara;
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) required.

COVID Policy

Braille Institute requires its employees to be “fully vaccinated.” “Fully vaccinated” means having received both shots of a two-dose vaccination series (Pfizer or Moderna) or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine AND having received a booster once booster-eligible, which is 6 months after the second dose for Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.