Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Pay Grade: Teacher Placement Schedule

Primary Purpose:
Provide a variety of services to students with visual impairments.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:
Valid Texas teaching certificate
Endorsement in Visual Impairments

Special Knowledge/Skills:
Braille, Nemeth; adaptive technology, Expanded Core Curriculum

Experience
Preferred

Major Responsibilities and Duties:
1. Provide direct instruction to students with visual impairments, ages 0-22 years, requiring special expertise to ensure academic success (Braille, Braille readiness skills, use of low vision aide, sensorimotor stage skills, efficient use of residual vision, pre-orientation and mobility skills, use of adaptive equipment, social and self- help skills, career and vocational skills.).
2. Consult with classroom teachers and other appropriate staff to support the student in the mainstream classroom.
3. Assist school staff in adapting material for students with visual impairments.
4. Coordinate with the Education Service Center Region XIII.
5. Coordinate visually impaired instruction with ECI personnel.
6. Train classroom teachers of the mobility impaired/visually impaired student in developing and implementing a program of visual efficiency skills. Train classroom teachers of the mobility impaired students with visual impairments in adapting programming for students with limited or no vision.
7. Locate, contract, and arrange Low Vision Clinic services as needed.
8. Counsel with students and their families about the nature of and effects of individual visual problems. Train older students and parents of infants in case management skills.

Referral and Assessment
9. Be familiar with and adhere to federal, state, and local requirements for referral procedures for students with visual impairments. Read and interpret medical and ophthalmological information.
10. Assess functional vision for each student referred. Assist other assessment personnel in selecting, adapting and interpreting tests suitable for the visually impaired.
11. Perform and/or assist with comprehensive assessments for infants with visual impairments or students who are deaf-blind for whom traditional means of testing are inappropriate.
12. Participate in ARD and transition committee meetings. Assist in developing the IEP and ITP for each student.
13. Maintain ongoing communication with vision screening personnel (school nurses), ECI programs, Department of Health, and the Division of Blind Services-DARS in order to know how to refer students with visual impairments.

Interagency Coordination and Resources
14. Disseminate information regarding services from other related service agencies to parents and/or teachers.
15. Coordinate with appropriate agencies to provide transitional services for high school and junior high age students.
16. Refer students as needed to the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) or residential, day school, or summer services. Coordinate gathering of required data and application forms. Attend ARD meetings at TSBVI when students are enrolling or being returned to the local district.
17. Locate summer services as needed, i.e. Texas Lions Camp, etc.
18. Assist in determining need for EYS services. Recommend goals and objectives for students receiving Extended School Year (ESY) services

Specialized Materials
19. Order appropriate materials through American Printing House for the Blind or local funding sources in order to meet the needs of students with visual impairments. Work with the textbook coordinator in order to ensure students have appropriate textbooks.
20. Arrange for dissemination of materials received to homes and classrooms, following local procedures for checkout. Maintain separate listing of inventory items detailing locating of all items. Perform inventory once per year. Locate and transport items to summer storage facility.
21. Arrange for repair when necessary.

Professional Development
22. Be aware of new developments in education of the visually impaired through attending inservice training, conferences, and meetings.

Professionalism, Morale, and Team Building within the department and campuses (Based on feedback & observations)
23. Exhibit poise, self-control and accept constructive criticism.
24. Exhibit a positive attitude toward others. Treat other staff with respect and dignity.
25. Interact with others effectively and respond to customer needs in a courteous, respectful manner.
26. Answer all phone calls and emails within 24 hours of receipt.
27. Maintain confidentiality.
28. Work collaboratively with the Department to develop a common vision of excellence and to ensure attainment of team, department, and district goals.

Other
29. Proactively manages time to fulfill expectations and requirements of the assigned job.
30. Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Braille transcriber

Equipment Used:

Use office machines such as computers, copy machines, telephones, and scanners, and software for word processing and databases

Working Conditions:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Lift items 15 - 40 pounds (infrequently)

Maintain emotional control under stress.  Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling.  Move small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom or adaptive equipment.  May be required to lift and position students with physical disabilities; control behavior through physical restraint; and assist non-ambulatory students.  Exposed to biological hazards.
Travel to campuses

EEOC Statement:

Hays Consolidated I.S.D. will not discriminate against any person in employment or exclude any person from participating in or receiving benefits of any of its activities or programs on any basis prohibited on the bases of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit based factor. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, and training and career development programs.

(Teachers with disabilities are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act).

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required. Positions are extended annually based upon availability of funding.