Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher Location: Des Moines, IA Salary Minimum: $53,414.40Job Type: Full-timeAgency: 131 Iowa Department for the BlindJob Number: 24-00329Post Close Date: May 20, 2024Point of Contact: Karly PrindsTo Apply: All candidates are strongly encouraged to attach a cover letter and resume to the application.Job Description:The Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking energetic and passionate teachers for a position that will promote IDB’s mission, vision, and values through teaching blindness skills to teens and adults across Iowa. As a member of a team of eight teachers, this position will be based in Des Moines and travel to serve roughly twenty-five clients in a section of the state. This position will also get to plan and lead group training events for youth and adults in collaboration with other teachers. Ideal candidates will possess a strong teaching ability, solid organization and time management skills, and a belief in the capacity of blind persons. IDB will provide training in the specific blindness skills areas listed as needed.Duties and responsibilities to include the following:Teach blindness skills, including but not limited to braille, cane travel, home and personal management, and access technology, to vocational rehabilitation clients, individually and in groups. Provide regular written reports documenting training and communicate regularly with vocational rehabilitation counselors regarding client progress and concerns. Evaluate the skill level and training needs of vocational rehabilitation clients. Provide reports documenting strengths, weaknesses and training recommendations to clients, counselors and IEP teams as appropriate.Assist in developing and implementing group trainings for vocational rehabilitation clients to maximize client learning and engagement and most effectively utilize staff time.Assist in developing assessments and training curricula for use with clients.Assist in developing and providing training to service providers including paraprofessionals, in working with blind persons in a manner that supports skill development and fosters independence.Essential functions of this position:Produce clear written reports on client training sessionsRead and write contracted brailleTeach clients to utilize the contracted braille code proficiently; including the use of English grammar, spelling and sentence structure.Independently travel (using a long white cane under sleep shades)Teach clients to travel using a long white caneExperience teaching blindness skills preferred.It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment.This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department for the Blind. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section. Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise. Minimum Qualification RequirementsGraduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing or business and experience equal to three years of full time professional work;
OR
the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a rehabilitation counselor or teacher shall be considered as qualifying provided the employee has successfully completed training to meet the certification criteria established by the agency;
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an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time professional work experience for each year of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years. For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)