Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

The primary purpose of this position is to provide blind and vision rehabilitation services for Veterans and Servicemembers who are visually impaired. Blind Rehabilitation includes the disciplines of low vision therapy, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, manual skills instruction and computer access instruction. The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist possesses professional knowledge and skill in applying concepts, principles, and practices of blind and vision rehabilitation.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 :

• United States Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Education - The individual must have earned:
  • 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 - Required at the GS-11 grade level and above - Submit if Applicable .
  • Applicants at the GS-11 level and above 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 Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold.
  • BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows:
    • Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS).
    • Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT).
    • Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT).
    • Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision - All BRSs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification(s) that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
• (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification(s) that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required equivalent credential(s) as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• (4) If a BRS who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Grade Determinations

Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS), GS-11 (Full Performance Level)

• Experience - In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade.

-OR-

• Education - . Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Doctoral Degree; or Doctoral Degree in Blind Rehabilitation or a directly related field.
• Certification - Certification is required at this grade level and above. BRSs at the GS-11 grade level must have at least one certification from ACVREP or a related, equivalent, professional certification.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) - In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation.
  • Ability to properly assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions.
  • Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes.
  • Skill in instructional methods and learning principles.
  • Ability to employ interventions and unusual motivational techniques and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan.
  • Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for Veterans within scope of practice, making adaptations and modifications as required.
• Assignment - This is the full performance level for BRSs who are not VIST Coordinators. Assignments at this grade level include the following:
  • Staff BRS . In addition to providing services to Veterans described at the GS-9 grade level, individuals at this level have duties that typically include the following: serving as a consultant to blind/low vision rehabilitation and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating Veterans in the specialty area; serving as a mentor to other therapists who are evaluating and treating Veterans in the content specialty or program area; serving as internship supervisor to students who are completing their supervised practice; and providing in-service and clinical training programs in the content specialty or program area.
  • BRS (Sole Practice) . Individuals in this assignment may serve as the only BRS at a medical center or an outpatient clinic and are responsible for independent decision- making and independent care. Individuals in this assignment serve as a member of or as consultant to a specialty care team, [and provide in-service and clinical training programs in the content specialty or program area.

*** Qualifications - CONTINUED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION *** 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: .