Description

Summary: Plan and implement appropriate intervention strategies for children; birth to school age who are blind or low vision. Maintain good working relationships with families and other service providers to promote the best services for the child and family.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Promote the acquisition of developmental milestones for children who are blind or low vision through the implementation of intervention services in homes, childcare settings, and preschools.
• Adapt materials and environments for children who are blind or low vision to help them maximize their functional vision and develop compensatory skills. 
• Schedule and complete assessments as needed, including functional vision and learning media assessments.
• Follow regulations established by those contracting with VIPS, i.e., First Steps, public school systems, etc.
• Keep current of typical child development through approved trainings.
• Work cooperatively with team members from VIPS and other community partners.
• Attend IEP and IFSP meetings as requested.
• Have a good working knowledge of diagnoses of visual impairments and their impact on a child’s development.  
• Work with families to help them better understand their child’s visual diagnosis to encourage development and independence in their daily routines and activities and provide information as needed.
• Maintain appropriate records and complete reports within guidelines of funding sources and VIPS requirements.
• Navigate visits in an appropriate amount of time in multiple locations.
• Attend VIPS functions, including staff meetings, annual meetings, family retreat, fundraising events, and family activities.
• Maintain state credentials and certifications.
• Attend professional development trainings.
• Accompany families to ophthalmologist visits or other community resources with prior approval from the Director of Education.
• Respect all families and their cultural beliefs.

Requirements

Qualifications:  
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:  
Teaching certificate in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) and/or Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) or Teacher of Blind/Low Vision (TBLV).  Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.

Computer Skills:
Basic computer and assistive technology skills are required, experience with Google Workspace is preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:  
Teacher of the Visually Impaired, IECE – Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, or Teacher of Blind/Low Vision (state license/certificate)

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Early Intervention System (Indiana or Kentucky First Steps).
• Experience with families.  
• Experience with a variety of social-economic groups.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.