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Orientation and Mobility Specialist

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Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Salary

$58,035.00 - $88,235.00 Annually

Location

Blair County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2025-26219-44920

Department

Department of Labor & Industry

Division

LI BBVS Altoona Dstr Off

Opening Date

05/27/2025

Closing Date

6/25/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

44920

Position Number

00022021

Union

SEIU

Bargaining Unit

F4

Pay Group

ST07

Bureau / Division Code

00126440

Bureau / Division

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services/Altoona District Office

Worksite Address

1130 12th Avenue

Worksite Address

Suite 300

City

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

16601

Contact Name

Bradley Powell

Contact Email

[email protected]

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

THE POSITION

Are you in search of a rewarding career in which you can make a genuine impact on the lives of your fellow Pennsylvanians? The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) Altoona District Office, is seeking an Orientation and Mobility Specialist to provide a full range of services to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Take pride in knowing the work you do assists those in need to maintain as much independence as possible within their home and community. We look forward to meeting you!

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The primary focus of an Orientation and Mobility Specialist is to promote optimal personal and social adjustment to blindness, creating a path to self-sufficiency and independent living. You will contribute to the rehabilitation process through assessing referrals by collecting and reviewing reports and information, consulting with staff, interviewing individuals, and observing current level of functioning to create an individualized plan and make referrals for other appropriate services.

This professional utilizes a comprehensive approach towards developing a service plan to include individualized instructions based on objectives and recommendations and in coordination with the vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and social services plan. You will also have opportunities to provide sequences of individualized or group instruction by implementing experience-based learning activities and supervised practice of techniques to promote optimum attainment of independence. In addition, you will p rovide information, consultation, and training to staff of provider agencies, nursing homes, hospitals, and community facilities in order to assist them in meeting the needs of the population served.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description (https://careers.employment.pa.gov/pd/PD\_NEOGOV.asp?p=00022021) .

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

+ Full-time employment

+ Work hour s are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.

+ Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Altoona.

+ Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.

+ You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

+ Successful completion of the commonwealth’s Orientation and Mobility Intern program ; or

+ A bachelor’s or master’s degree or certificate from an approved college or university program in orientation and mobility that includes a practicum ; or

+ Possession of an active Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).

+ Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

+ PA residency requirement (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) is currentlywaivedfor this title.

+ You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

+ This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.

+ Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

+ Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents willnot be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).

+ If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

+ Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.

+ Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

+ Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans’ Preference tab or contact us at [email protected] .

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

+ 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

+ Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).

+ Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.

+ Your score is valid for this specific posting only.

+ You must provide complete and accurate information or:

+ your score may be lower than deserved.

+ you may be disqualified.

+ You may only apply/testoncefor this posting.

+ Your results will be provided via email.

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this shortvideo (https://www.youtube.com/embed/HtcSRnndflc?rel=0) !

See the total value of your benefits package by exploring ourbenefits calculator.

Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*

Compensation & Financial Planning

We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance

We know there’s more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*

Values and Culture

We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks

Sometimes, it is the little “extras” that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visitwww.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.

*Eligibility rules apply.

01

You must complete the supplemental question(s) below. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. Youmustcomplete the applicationandanswer the supplemental question(s). Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents willnotbe reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.

All information you provide on your application and supplemental question(s) is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty.

Read the question(s) carefully. Determine and select the option that most closely represents your highest level of experience/training/certification. The option you choose must be clearly supported if requested.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to ourFAQ page (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) .

+ Yes

02

Have you successfully completed the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Orientation and Mobility Intern program?

+ Yes

+ No

03

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experiencemustalso be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

04

Have you completed a conferred bachelor's degree or higher or certificate from an approved college or university program in orientation and mobility that includes a practicum?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visitingwww.naces.organd clicking the Evaluation Services Link.

For additional information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information. You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.

+ Yes

+ No

05

If you answered NO to the above question, are you currently within three months of graduating with a bachelor's degree or higher or a certificate in an orientation and mobility program? If YES, you must submit a copy of your most recent transcript as well as your expected graduation date.

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visitingwww.naces.organd clicking the Evaluation Services Link.

For additional information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information. You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.

+ Yes

+ No

06

Please indicate expected graduation date below. If you answered no, type N/A in the box below.

07

Do you possess an active Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP)?

+ Yes

+ No

08

If you answered YES to the above question, please provide your certificate number and expiration date in the text box below. Upload a copy of the certificate using the Attachment tab. If you answered NO, please type N/A if the text box below.

Required Question

Employer

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Address

613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120

Website

http://www.employment.pa.gov