POSITION DESCRIPTIONTitle: Teacher of the Visually Impaired

FLSA: Exempt

Iowa Educational Services for theClassification: Faculty

Blind and Visually ImpairedDate Reviewed: March 2012

Primary Function:In collaboration with Area Education Agencies (AEAs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs), and using an itinerant model, the Teacher of the Visually Impaired provides appropriate support and/or instruction to students with visual impairments, in their local school and home settings. Support is also provided to parents and local school personnel.

Reports to: Regional Director

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. In partnership with the AEAs and LEAs, work with students, parents, and professionals throughout the referral, evaluation, staffing, and plan development phases.
  2. In partnership with AEAs and LEAs, provide appropriate vision services, including the use of technology, to students on either a direct or a consultant basis, according to the IEP and documented needs.
  3. Ensure students are scheduled for low vision clinic visits as appropriate and assist the student throughout the clinic visit process
  4. Consult with regular classroom teachers regarding appropriate classroom methods, technology and adaptations to insure equal educational opportunities.
  5. In partnership with AEAs and LEAs, assist with NIMASprocedures for required textbooks.
  6. Obtain or prepare required textbooks and consumable materials in an appropriate medium
  7. Obtain appropriate equipment and teaching aids as needed.
  8. Ensure expanded core curriculum areas are addressed as appropriate.
  9. Teach compensatory skills necessary for academic success and life skills leading to independence. Collaborate with classroom and resource teachers, para-professionals and others to monitor and instruct in the area of compensatory skills.
  10. Promote positive attitudes towards children with visual impairments among school staff, parents, and the community.
  11. Communicate with the AEA supervisor, LEA teachers and staff, and with all other related vision and disability specialists, and other professionals and paraprofessionals in the area.
  12. Maintain a safe environment for students and strive to meet their needs.
  13. Support and adhere to the Statewide System for Vision Services’, mission, programs, policies and procedures.
  14. Effectively utilize resources to meet student needs.
  15. Comply with personnel policies.
  16. Demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills.
  17. Demonstrate willingness to support change for the improvement of services to students.
  18. Other related duties as assigned by the Regional Director.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in education plus experience using a computer and other office equipment required. Candidates must meet State of Iowa teacher licensure requirements with an endorsement in visual impairment by the time of appointment. The ability to travel throughout a designated region within Iowa on a daily basis also required. Master’s degree in education preferred.

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The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the job, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job.