[Missouri-l] Job Posting Senior Services Specialist for the Blind 1 Rehabilitation Teacher Iowa

[peter altschul]

STATE OF IOWA

Transfer/Promotional Opportunity



February 9, 2010



Senior Services Specialist for the Blind 1

Rehabilitation Teacher



Provide those services necessary to help individuals who are 
blind or visually impaired develop the confidence and skills 
needed to independently and competently participate in their 
families, communities, and occupations of choice.  Provide 
services on an outreach basis, covering the northwest and north 
central portion of Iowa.  Work primarily with older individuals 
and with individuals who have significant co-disabilities.  
Assess needs to determine services that will best serve the 
individual and work with the individual to develop and implement 
a plan to meet identified needs.  Provide instruction in the 
alternative techniques of blindness (including Braille, travel 
with the long white cane, use of assistive technology, home 
management, and leisure activities).  Provide guidance and 
counseling about vision loss to promote a positive adjustment to 
blindness.  Assist individuals access various community resources 
by providing information and referral services, and advocacy.



Follow prescribed case management practices and provide narrative 
reports inclusive of need assessments, plans to meet identified 
needs, rationale for service decisions, description of services 
provided, and results achieved.  Coordinate and facilitate agency 
services such as library services and training in the Adult 
Orientation and Adjustment Center.  Work in tandem with the 
vocational rehabilitation counselor to support clients in the 
pursuit of their vocational goals.



Provide consultation and in-service training to other agencies so 
they can better serve their clients who are blind.  Deliver 
presentations to civic, social, and professional organizations to 
increase awareness about department services and promote a 
positive philosophy of blindness.  Assist  with other department 
outreach activities.

Must possess highly developed teaching and counseling skills, 
good public speaking and writing skills, excellent organizational 
skills, and excellent judgment.  Must possess the abilities to 
handle sensitive situations, solve problems, and work as a member 
of a team.  Intensive training in appropriate skills and 
attitudes of blindness will be provided.  Must possess knowledge 
of or be able to learn effective alternative techniques of 
blindness, particularly in the areas of communications, travel 
with a long white cane, and home and personal management.  
Extensive travel with some evenings, overnights, and weekends.  
Domiciled in north west or north central Iowa.

Minimum qualifications are:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree 
in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing, or 
business and experience equal to three years of full time 
professional work, or;

the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a 
rehabilitation counselor or teacher shall be considered as 
qualifying provided the employee has successfully completed 
training to meet the certification criteria established by the 
agency, or;

an equivalent combination of education and experience, 
substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time professional 
work experience for each year of the required education to a 
maximum substitution of four years.



Salary range: $42,369.60-$64,521.60 annually, plus comprehensive 
benefit package, Pay Grade 28, Pay Plan 000

Hours:                8:00 a.m.  - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday



Domicile:            North west or north central Iowa

Location:           Iowa Department for the Blind, 524 Fourth 
Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-2364

For further information contact Becky Criswell, Supervisor, (515) 
281-1299 or (800) 362-2587.  Persons who wish to be considered 
for this position must submit a resume and letter of application 
to Karen A.  Keninger, Director, Iowa Department for the Blind, 
524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 or 
karen.keninger at blind.state.ia.us no later than Friday, March 5, 
2010.