Blind Rehabilitation Therapist - Low Vision Therapist

Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Low Vision Therapist

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Low Vision Therapist will provide blind and vision rehabilitation services for visually impaired veterans and service members. This includes the disciplines of low vision therapy, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, manual skills instruction, and computer access instruction.

This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until December 31, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be October 20, 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

VHA Health Professions Trainee (HPT): VHA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) pending the completion of education or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. NOTE: This applies to current/past/upcoming VHA HPTs only. An HPT is an individual appointed to a temporary position in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program.

Major duties include:

• Providing direct patient care and support services to an adult population of patients which is characterized by a very significant number of older male patients.
• Employee must tailor patient care and support services to meet the needs of the individual patient.
• Evaluate and assess needs, capabilities, and limitations, goal setting, and prescribing a treatment plan for individuals experiencing blindness/visual impairment caused by injury or disease.
• Independent evaluation, treatment, and management of a blind and vision rehabilitation program of instruction that teaches veterans with visual impairments to utilize adaptive skills and techniques necessary to cope with the demands of everyday life.
• These needs constitute significant physical, emotional, and social disabilities.
• Studies visual and non-visual barriers and related processes that result in activity limitations, participation restrictions, loss of vocational and avocational opportunities, and psychological distress.
• Use diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and instrumentation to identify and resolve or minimize these problems.
• Identify the difficulties confronting the veteran and the barriers to treatment and then develop and provide intervention designed to enhance the blind and vision rehabilitation process.
• Develops a treatment plan in conjunction with an interdisciplinary team to improve the quality of life for blind and visually impaired veterans through the development of skills and capabilities needed for personal independence, emotional stability, and the successful integration into community, family, and environment.
• Use and maintain technology (discipline specific) necessary to assist in the veteran's rehabilitation needs and processes such as electronic travel aids, computer assisted technology, speech output and input devices, large print devices, and Braille devices.
• Determines the need for these devices based on type, nature, and severity of the problem, and assessments, and instructs the veteran in the proper use of the device along with its abilities and limitations.
• Optical devices, prescribed by an eye care specialist, are incorporated into the BRS's treatment plan.
• Works with family members and/or significant others to educate and counsel about the ramifications of visual impairment. Family members are taught to recognize and change behaviors and behavior patterns that impede blind and vision rehabilitation progress and how to cope with the psychological and social problems and their own individual stress.
• Maintains awareness of new technological developments in the field through research and education.
• Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) for other medical and allied health staff by providing counseling to healthcare providers and professionals on the nature of visual impairment and blind and vision rehabilitation.
• Serves as a mentor for clinical trainees within the specific disciplines.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (Low Vision Therapist), GS-9 (Entry Level) 613-25205-F; Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (Low Vision Therapist) GS-11 (Full Performance Level) 613-25001-F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

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.

Qualifications:

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.

Education. (1) The individual must have earned:

(a) 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.

(b) 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 or 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 or 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.

(1) Applicants 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.

(2) BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows:

(a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS).

(b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT).

(c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT).

(d) Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS).

Loss of Credential. (1) Once certified, a BRS must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of certification will result in removal from the BRS occupation and may result in termination of employment.

(2) A BRS who has, or has ever had his/