Teacher Visually Impaired

 

Position / Title: Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Bargaining Unit:    ETA	Department/Location: Specialized Student Services
Calendar Days: 184	Reports To: Building Principal
JD Revision Date: 04/09/2021	Supervises: N/A

 
Function / Position Summary
The primary goal of the vision itinerant program is to serve students with vision loss who are experiencing educational difficulties so that they may adequately function within their school setting. 
 
Job Duties / Responsibilities

• Provide individualized instruction to students who are blind or visually impaired
• Interpret vision evaluations and other reports regarding visual impairment.
• Consult with health services to provide information about vision impairment.
• Modification of classroom assignments and tests for caseload students
• Ongoing collaboration and communication with parents and staff
• Complete diagnostic components determined on domains sheet
• Shared responsibility for testing students as determined by School Service Team discussion
• Enter diagnostic information into data-based screens and create hard copy of diagnostic report
• Attend School Service Team and IEP meetings
• Complete data-based screens for annual reviews/re-evaluations for case load students
• Shared responsibility for entering present levels of information for initial evaluations including ELL evaluations as determined by School Service Team discussions
• Update progress reports at the marking period
• Develop transition plans and Summary of Performance for students 14 years or older
• Determine accommodations needed as related to the student’s vision impairment. 
• Implement goals as stated in IEP through direct and consult services.
• Work collaboratively with school personnel to implement accommodations.
• Manage adaptive equipment.
• Act as case manager and oversee IEP and implementation of services
• Monitor case load for annual review and re-evaluation dates
• Maintain appropriate and accurate records.
• Be a general source of information regarding vision loss.
• Inservice staff regarding vision loss.
• Create a schedule that takes into consideration the schedules of students and classroom teacher.
• Attend building/department meetings in accordance with ETA collective bargaining agreement
• Attend school professional development
• Perform other requirements of the job in accordance with the ETA collective bargaining agreement.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the building principal and administrative staff

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education from accredited university
• Illinois Professional Educators License (PEL) with an endorsement in Vision Impairment
• Highly Qualified under state and federal guidelines
• Bilingual - Spanish/English (written/verbal) preferred.

Experience / Knowledge

• Effective communication skills. 
• Knowledge of vision loss, adverse effects, and educational needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively with school personnel.
• Ability to choose appropriate formal and informal testing materials, administer tests, interpret results, and create IEP.
• Previous experience in special education

Physical Demands

• Must be able to commute between several different locations throughout the district.
• Must be able to work in a variety of school settings.
• Must be able to lift and carry instructional materials in and out of buildings.

Terms of Employment

• This is a nine-month position.
• Salary and benefits as established by the Board of Education.