Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (Visual Skills)

About the role

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist provides assessment, treatment, and follow-up services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members. Responsibilities include low-vision therapy, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation, manual skills, and computer access instruction.

Specialists work independently across hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, homes, and community settings.

What you will do

• The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist provides direct patient care and support services to an adult population of patients which is characterized by a very significant number of older male patients in the Orientation and Mobility Department.
• Review of demographic data discloses that the average age of a Central Blind Rehabilitation Center patient is 67.4 years with a distribution of 96% male and 4% female.
• Within these broad categorizations, the employee must tailor patient care and support services to meet the needs of the individual patient.
• This includes the responsibility for assessment of each patient's needs and the delivery of services which are responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the extent possible.
• Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Provides direct care and support services to adults with blindness or visual impairment, including a substantial population of older male veterans.
• Assesses each veteran's needs, abilities, limitations, concerns, and barriers to treatment, then develops individualized goals and treatment plans.
• Provides instruction in adaptive skills and techniques that promote independence and help veterans manage everyday activities.
• Addresses the physical, emotional, psychological, social, vocational, and recreational effects of blindness and visual impairment.
• Works as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team and may serve as Team Coordinator for one or more veterans.
• As Team Coordinator, develops and coordinates the veteran's Interdisciplinary Plan of Care with input from the veteran and other team members.
• Serves as a primary advocate for assigned veterans by communicating their needs and concerns to the rehabilitation team.
• Provides and documents professional assessments, individualized program plans, training progress, post-training skills, and recommendations.
• Evaluates and prescribes low-vision and adaptive technologies, including electronic travel aids, computer-assisted technology, closed-circuit television, speech-output and input devices, large-print devices, and Braille equipment.
• Instructs veterans in the proper use, capabilities, and limitations of prescribed devices.
• Supports veterans with complex needs, including additional medical, psychological, substance-use, or cognitive concerns.
• Builds rapport with veterans and provides interventions designed to enhance the rehabilitation process.
• Mentors new visual rehabilitation staff, employees from other departments, interns, and clinical trainees requiring cross-training.
• May assume administrative responsibilities during the absence of the supervisory specialist, including scheduling, supply management, work orders, service recovery, and leave and attendance reporting.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Requirement: Driving patients for training purposes.
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Suitable.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 02293F, 02329F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
• Salary Ranges: GS 09: $68,999 - $89,703 GS 11: $83,482 - $108,533

Requirements

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

You can verify your education here: *** If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: ***

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Documents you must provide

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Certification Required for the GS 11 grade Professional Certification SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' preference does not apply for internal permanent agency employees.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.