Itinerant Teacher for Vision Impairments

Position Type:
Special Education/Vision Impaired

Date Posted:
6/20/2023

Location:
North Joshua Elementary School

Date Available:
08/04/2023

Job Title: Itinerant Teacher for Vision Impairments

Reports to: Director of Special Services

Dept./School: Special Education

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Pay Grade: Teacher (150 day contract)

Minimum Salary: $48,128
Primary Purpose:
The itinerant teacher for students with visual impairments travels to the students’ assigned schools to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to vision loss. These services enable the students to learn in a variety of settings. Services for infants may be provided in the infants’ homes or child care settings. The students range in age from birth through 21 and may have only a visual impairment or additional disabilities. The cognitive levels of the students range from severely impaired to gifted and talented.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

• A bachelor’s degree from a college or university.
• Texas certification for teachers of students with visual impairments.
• The ability to travel between sites.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Assessment and Evaluation

1. Perform functional vision and learning media assessments on new referrals and three-year re-evaluations
2. Interpret eye medical reports as they relate to educational environments
3. Contribute to the development of the IEP/IFSP with goals, modifications, learning styles.
4. Recommend appropriate specialized evaluations as needed, such as low vision, orientation and mobility, psycho-social, and adaptive physical education
5. Consult with diagnosticians, classroom teachers, students, and parents concerning appropriate evaluations, modification, and test administration
6. Obtain modified standardized testing materials (NAPT, ITBS, TAAS, SAT, ACT) and administer or assist in the administration of the test as needed
7. Work as liaison with other agencies in the vocational assessment process
8. Administer various other tests as appropriate (Oregon Project, Insite, Hawaii, Boehme, LAP, E-LAP)
9. Participate in team assessments for students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities
10. Provide screening and referral procedures to appropriate personnel.

Consultation

1. Assist in determining and procuring classroom equipment and materials necessary for the student with visual impairments to learn (brailler, low vision devices, assistive technology, computer) including ensuring necessary room modifications and lighting changes
2. Provide the classroom teacher with information regarding the specialized strategies needed to teach a VI student
3. Consult with other instructional staff to provide information to incorporate the expanded core curriculum into the entire instructional setting
4. Provide modified materials to the classroom teacher
5. Provide braille, recorded/enlarged materials, and tactual symbols as appropriate for each child
6. Provide assistance to students with visual impairments in understanding their attitudes and those of others concerning their visual impairment
7. Facilitate social integration and interaction with peers
8. Provide training and support to parents of students with visual impairments to enhance their children’s independence
9. Provide the teachers, staff, and family of students with visual impairment with information regarding their individual needs, methodology, and strategies
10. Participate with other school personnel and agencies to secure job-related experiences for students
11. Participate in transition planning.

Direct Instruction in the Unique Curriculum

1. Monitoring the students’ progress in academic subjects and provide instruction in compensatory skills as needed in the areas the students may have difficulty with as a result of the visual impairment (This does not include tutoring in subject areas once materials and methods have been modified to accommodate the vision loss)
2. Braille reading and writing
3. Low vision devices
4. Abacus
5. Typing/keyboarding
6. Adaptive devices (e.g., computers, note takers, tape recorders)
7. Listening skills
8. Visual efficiency
9. Concept development (especially for infants and early childhood students)
10. Daily living/self-help skills
11. Career readiness
12. Leisure and recreation skills
13. Social skills
14. Organizational and study skills
15. Self-advocacy

Administration

1. Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records and other documents required.
2. Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and local board policy.
3. Comply with all district and campus routines and regulations.
4. Effectively communicate with colleagues, students, and parents.
5. Participate in professional development activities to improve skills related to job assignment.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.
Working Conditions:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Maintain emotional control under stress. Regular district wide travel to multiple work locations as assigned;

moderate lifting and carrying. May be required to life and transfer students to and from wheelchair or assist with

positioning students with physical disabilities.

THE JOSHUA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUINTY EMPLOYER.