Job Summary

The Low Incidence Vision Specialist (Teacher) shall report directly to the Humboldt – Del Norte SELPA Executive Director and assume responsibility for planning, coordinating and implementing programs and services designed to address the unique needs of children identified as visually impaired. The Low Incidence Vision Specialist (Teacher) shall observe, consult with and assist special and regular education staff as they adapt classroom instructional strategies to accommodate students with varying visual impairments. The Low Incidence Vision Specialist (Teacher) shall also serve as a liaison between the school and various related community agencies and professionals that provide services to children with visual impairments and their families.

Employment Standards

Education, Experience, and Requirements

• Possess and maintain a valid California Special Education credential to teach individuals with visual impairments;
• Demonstrate competence in communicating effectively with children and parents, staff members and representatives of other agencies;
• Possess specialized skills, experience and training in the areas of instructional methodologies, curriculum design/modification and the use of technology designed to compensate for one’s visual impairment;
• Demonstrate knowledge of and experience with various community resources associated with the special needs of visually impaired/blind youth and their families.

Examples of Duties

• Provides direct instruction to students and periodic consultation as needed to help the student with visual impairments function maximally within the school setting;
• Assists the IEP Team with student assessment, individualized instructional plan design, implementation and progress monitoring for each student;
• Provides advice on establishing and maintaining a classroom atmosphere and environment which lessens the impact of the student’s impaired condition;
• Facilitates the student mainstreaming process by providing support services to the regular and/or special education classroom teacher;
• Demonstrates alternative methods, techniques and educational strategies to facilitate special student learning needs;
• Develops individual lessons to coincide with classroom curriculum areas, selects materials and/or obtains specialized aids needed by the student and classroom teacher;
• Provides information to IEP and assessment teams regarding resources available to children and families;
• Assists students, parents, staff and sighted peers in understanding students that are visually impaired through in-service training and consultation;
• Develops instructional units that address fine and sensory motor skills needs;
• Demonstrates the proper use and care of specialized adaptive equipment as may be required by the student’s physical impairment;
• Assists in transition of students from program to program in keeping with goals identified by IEP Team;
• Maintains ongoing contact with parents to assist them in development of realistic understanding of child’s abilities, progress and future goals;
• Assists in the coordination of other personnel, such as transcribers, readers, counselor, orientation and mobility specialists and career/vocational staff;
• Acquires and disseminates information on current research, development, technology and other resources related to the visually impaired;
• Establishes and maintains comprehensive student/program files as required;
• Supports the policies and programs of the Humboldt-Del Norte SELPA and performs assigned duties consistent with school, district or office policies, regulations and procedures;
• Maintains professional competency by actively engaging in employer directed in-service activities and other similar opportunities provided to staff;
• Cooperatively engages in the professional evaluation process with supervisor to ensure ongoing professional growth and competence;
• Effectively communicates with staff, parents and agencies;
• Attends regular and special staff meetings and actively participates as a member of the educational team;
• Responds effectively to the input from and coordinates tasks with district/school personnel as required by assignment;
• Performs other related duties.

Physical Abilities

Special note regarding the physical demands of teaching: There is some degree of physical ability and exertion required of all teaching positions. Over time, the physical demands of any position are subject to change. Depending upon the particular assignment, teachers could be expected to:

• Stand, sit and/or move about for sustained periods;
• Move about in non-traditional instructional environments; i.e., areas of the community;
• Report to multiple worksites in a given day or during the work week;
• Communicate effectively in-person and via telephone and other electronic media to individuals and groups of varying sizes;
• Exercise physical control over students who are acting out and/or offer physical assistance to students who might be themselves physically impaired;
• Conduct instructional programs within pre-designated break periods and time schedules;
• Maintain an appropriate personal demeanor during periods of heightened stress created by outside factors not always within the ability of the teacher to control at the time.

The Humboldt County Office of Education is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. Consistent with that philosophy is the receptivity to consider requests to modify the traditional modes of delivering instructional services to reasonably accommodate an individual’s disabilities as long as the quality of the program offered remains consistent with the standards established by the office.

Note: An employee in this position must have a valid California driver’s license and be able to operate a vehicle to drive to the necessary schools throughout the county or be able to otherwise move about to multiple work sites on any given day.

For further information concerning the specific requirements of any particular assignment, please contact the Personnel Office.

Class 1
10/21/92:gj | Updated 05/07/98 | Retyped 02/02/06:sg
Updated 5/2019 dr