Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Low Vision Therapy

Summary This position is located at the Brooklyn VA Medical Center. The position is within the Optometry Department location within the Department of Surgery. The primary purpose of this position is to provide blind and vision rehabilitation services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members. Blind Rehabilitation includes the disciplines of low vision therapy, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, manual skills instruction and computer access instruction. Responsibilities Low Vision Therapists are responsible for: - Assessing the patient's background, interests, future plans, motivation, needs, and capabilities for low vision therapy. - Working with team members to develop a training plan based on low vision therapy assessment results, patient goals and needs. - Evaluating (with other team members and ancillary staff as needed) the veteran's mental ability, tactual perception, memory, spelling, study habits, as well as adaptive technology capacity. - Uses effective interviewing techniques to obtain objective and factual information pertaining to the veteran's low vision adjustment, deficits, interests and aptitudes in assessment of specific skill areas. - Completes a functional low vision evaluation that identifies the impact of visual impairments on activities of daily living, orientation and mobility, vocational/avocational activities and personal adjustments. Use of functional vision evaluation tools under the supervision of the optometrist/ophthalmologist to assess visual acuity, contrast sensitivity function, visual perceptual and visual motor functioning and literacy skills in reading and writing. - Evaluation of optical/ nonoptical/ electronic devices for enhancing residual vision at near, intermediate and far distances. - Evaluation and training of veterans in the use of illumination, glare control and contrast techniques to optimize the use of optical devices, in all tasks of daily living. - Evaluation of appropriate devices prescribed by the eye care professional. - Provides training on specific visual motor skills, which includes the identification and use of preferred retinal locus for fixation/eccentric viewing, accurate saccades, etc. - Provides instruction in the use of adaptive equipment that enhances visual function and/or compensates for loss of vision. This may include use of large print, reading stands, lighting management (lamps, filters and other illumination control), writing aids, software and electronic devices to address. - Evaluating each veteran's safety habits and self confidence while performing low vision therapy related tasks. -Providing consultation and vision rehabilitation therapy instruction to VA staff, family members, etc. as appropriate. - Counseling veteran's regarding the advantages and limitations of various low vision therapy techniques and adaptive devices as well as the veteran's potential and progress. - Recommending, training and ordering prosthetic devices to meet individual needs. - Evaluating the veteran's ability to utilize residual vision for computer access. - Presenting in-service, consultation, intra-VA details and community programs about low vision therapy and blind rehabilitation. - Documenting, in written form, the patient's progress, barriers to training and current treatment plan. - Attending and actively participating in staff/team meetings and serving as an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team. - Writing required treatment plans, progress notes, and summaries for veteran treatment. - Provides guidance to other blind rehabilitation professionals regarding veterans computer training needs. - Maintaining 5.0 data as needed by VA Blind Rehabilitation. - Assisting in the research in the evaluation of new devices and techniques for inclusion into the Blind Rehabilitation program. - Keeping abreast of current literature, teaching strategies, and technological advances specific to computer access training. - Completing required hours for VA educational training. - Assists team members with evaluation and training of veterans to perform activities of daily living within the scope of their certifications/disciplines. - Performing other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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 dentification 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

Created: 2025-11-06