DeafBlind Rehabilitation Specialist

Since 1967, Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are DeafBlind or have a combined hearing and vision loss. HKNC is dedicated to working with each person to achieve their desired goals towards independence, employment, and quality of life, based on their talents, preferences and aspirations. We currently have an exciting career opportunity available to join the HKNC team as a DeafBlind Rehabilitation Specialist in our North Central Region.

The DeafBlind Rehabilitation Specialist provides employment-focused vision rehabilitation, independent living, low vision, and assistive technology training to DeafBlind youth and adults across North Central Region 5, including individuals with complex medical needs, intellectual and developmental disabilities, or co-occurring disabilities. The Specialist supports employment readiness, workplace success, self-advocacy, daily living skills, community access, and effective use of low vision and adaptive strategies. This position also provides consultation, training, and technical assistance to consumers, families, caregivers, employers, Vocational Rehabilitation partners, Centers for Independent Living, medical providers, and interdisciplinary community teams, while collaborating with the HKNC Regional Services Coordinator to strengthen regional service capacity and outcomes.

Candidate must reside within Region 5 in one of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, or Wisconsin

Pay Range: $70-80k annually. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provide direct vocational rehabilitation, employment readiness, job development, job placement, job coaching, independent living, low vision, and assistive technology services across North Central Region 5 in accordance with HKNC and applicable service agreements.
• Deliver one-on-one and group services in home, community, work-site, training, or virtual settings based on consumer goals, communication preferences, accessibility needs, and service appropriateness.
• Support consumers with complex medical needs, intellectual and developmental disabilities, or co-occurring disabilities by adapting instruction, coordinating with families, caregivers, medical providers, and interdisciplinary support teams, and ensuring services are responsive to individual abilities, safety considerations, communication preferences, and support needs.
• Collaborate with Vocational Rehabilitation, community rehabilitation programs, Centers for Independent Living, schools, employers, DeafBlind projects, families, and other partners to support Individualized Plans for Employment, transition planning, referrals, and community-based services.
• Provide instruction in independent living skills, IADLs, home and community safety, braille, tactile literacy, keyboarding, mobile device accessibility, screen reader use, low vision devices, environmental modifications, assistive technology, self-advocacy, and related casework as needed.
• Conduct functional vision, independent living, vocational, and environmental assessments within the scope of CVRT practice to identify strengths, barriers, accessibility needs, communication preferences, training goals, and recommended strategies.
• Develop and implement individualized training plans that integrate employment goals, independent living skills, low vision strategies, adaptive techniques, assistive technology, workplace accommodations, and community supports.
• Train consumers in the effective use of low vision devices, lighting, contrast, magnification, labeling, organization systems, braille and tactile tools, accessible mobile technology, screen readers, and adaptive tools for home, work, community, and virtual environments.
• Support measurable progress toward employment readiness, work experience, job placement, job retention, accommodations, independent living, and low vision training goals.
• Maintain accurate and timely case notes, assessments, training plans, service summaries, follow-up reports, progress updates, barriers, and next steps in accordance with HKNC standards and applicable requirements
• Provide outreach, consultation, mentoring, and technical assistance to strengthen regional capacity related to DeafBlindness, vocational access, independent living, low vision strategies, assistive technology, workplace accommodations, transition services, and HKNC programs.
• Coordinate with HKNC programs, State DeafBlind Projects, VR partners, employers, and home teams to support referrals, transition planning, follow-up recommendations, work experiences, the HKNC National Registry, and regional best practices.
• Participate in continuing education and remain current on DeafBlindness, low vision, employment, independent living, rehabilitation, accessibility, assistive technology, and evidence-informed practices.

Responsible for other duties as may be assigned or requested by his/her immediate supervisor and/or the Director of the Department.

REQUIRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor’s degree in vision rehabilitation therapy, vocational rehabilitation, rehabilitation counseling, special education, orientation and mobility, social work, or a related field, plus three to five years of relevant experience;
• Current Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) certification is required and must be maintained in good standing throughout employment;
• Experience serving individuals who are DeafBlind, blind, low vision, Deaf, hard of hearing, or have combined vision and hearing loss, including independent living, low vision, assistive technology, and community-based rehabilitation services;
• Experience supporting individuals with complex medical needs, intellectual and developmental disabilities, or co-occurring disabilities, including coordination with families, caregivers, medical providers, and interdisciplinary support teams as appropriate;
• Familiarity with DeafBlind access tools and technology, including VP/VRS, low vision aids, magnification systems, screen readers, braille devices, video magnifiers, accessible mobile technology, labeling systems, and adaptive daily living tools;
• Strong professional communication, consultation, presentation, computer, and Microsoft Office skills.

PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in a related rehabilitation field;
• Orientation and Mobility training or credentialing preferred, but not required; ACRE and/or CESP also preferred;
• Familiarity with Vocational Rehabilitation, Deaf Services, and Blind Services Agencies;
• Experience developing and delivering low vision, independent living, and employment-related training;
• Fluency in communication methods used by people who are DeafBlind, including ASL, Protactile, and sign language in English word order.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 

• Current Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) certification is required and must be maintained in good standing.
• Additional employment-related credentials, including ACRE and/or CESP, are preferred. The Specialist must maintain any required state-specific credentials for service delivery across North Central Region 5.