Job Openings

Department of Services for the Blind

03/23/2026

Some of What You will Enjoy Doing:
Adaptive assessments and recommendations

• Conducts a comprehensive, in-depth assessment of all participants who are referred for vocational rehabilitation services.  The Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior gathers information respective of the participant's disability/disabilities, family support, educational/work history, motivation to work, adaptive skills of blindness and identification of functional limitations, attitude and acceptance of vision loss and other disabilities
• Assesses and measures participant's adjustment to vision loss, readiness for training. If issue arises, works with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, or PS4, to address any issues or conflicts. Recommends and implements solutions, therapies, techniques, and tools to address low vision needs
• Analyze anticipated needs for aids and appliances and skills and techniques, and determine the most effective and cost-efficient way to provide training (internally and/or externally) through discussion with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC), internal team, and participant
• Facilitate the practice of “informed choice”
• Make formal recommendations in the electronic case management system

Provide & Dev. Adaptive Training Curriculum & Orientation to Tools for Daily Living & Employ

• Independently demonstrate skills in synthesizing assessment data and developing of comprehensive specialized services and training unique to the individual and program as it relates to the vocational goal
• Coordinate assessment results with team, and develop plans for overlapping areas of responsibilities
• Communicate to the participant the scope of training, competencies, and expected results of training
• Develop and communicate the objectives and completion measurements for all training
• Conduct training or arrange contract training to external vendor
• Monitor participant progress and assesses effectiveness of training, making any necessary adjustments to training plan
• Test and measure participant competencies
• Serves as a regional and statewide resource to participants, staff and community partners
• Communicate the Agency's scope and mission
• Educate community partners and employers to an array of adaptive tools and techniques that allow for optimal activities of daily living, travel, and access to communications for potential students and employees
• Provides consultation, presentations/trainings, and technical assistance statewide, and nationwide, to community resource and service providers for the application and use of adaptive tools and training

Support Other Vision Rehabilitation Specialists

• Provides support and is responsible for the onboarding, training, and development for lower-level vision rehabilitation specialist staff towards competency among the range of vision rehabilitation specialists skill sets
• Responsible for ongoing training requests by lower-level staff and requests from Regional Area Managers (RAM) for employee retention training for lower-level staff
• Support statewide vision rehabilitation specialists process review and improvement efforts

Low Vision Evaluations, Recommendations, and Management

• Ability to independently perform comprehensive low vision evaluations including calculating magnification needs, lighting needs in home and workplace, glare reduction tools. Recommends solutions and alternatives as needed
• Coordinates recommendations to vocational rehabilitation participants and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
• Manages Low Vision Lab, overseeing the lab supplies, inventory, and makes recommendations for budget with the oversight of the Regional Area Manager

Documentation & Communication

• Prepare and maintain, which includes writing and editing, current documentation of training activities and related services in the automated case management system
• Communicate and coordinate participant Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching needs with the team
• In the team environment, provide input toward the development of quality service standards which affect policy, best practices and invoke procedural changes

Skills Development/Refreshment & Eval of Adaptive Training Innovations

• Evaluate new or upgraded aids, appliances, techniques and technologies 
• Keep current with developments in the Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching profession
• Meet with peer Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching staff on a quarterly basis and share new techniques, ideas and professional developments
• Assumes responsibility for preparing and delivering one formal peer or team training annually
• Mentor and train new staff in the areas of adaptive skills assessment, low vision assessments, DSB procedures and documentation independently without supervision

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
This position may be filled at the Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Entry, Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Journey, or Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior level, depending on qualifications. Advancement to the next level will be based upon the successful completion of an established In-Training Plan. Low Vision Evaluation and professional development of these skills are provided by DSB as the successful candidate progresses in their position.

What is an in-training plan? The in-training is intended to provide an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan. Upon successful completion of an in-training program, the incumbent will move up to the next job classification that is listed on the in-training plan if applicable.

Required Qualifications for Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Entry
To qualify for this specific Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Entry level position, a candidate must possess the following:
 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; NOTE: Two (2) years of experience in social services or providing services to individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind will substitute for two (2) years of the required education
• A current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required

Required Qualifications for Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Journey
To qualify for this specific Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Journey level position, a candidate must possess one (1) of the following qualification combination options:

[OPTION 1]:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology
• A current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required

[OPTION 2]:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; AND
• Two (2) years of paid professional experience providing services that teach adaptive skill of blindness to the blind, low vision, or deaf blind individuals
• A current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required

Required Qualifications for Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior
To qualify for this specific Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior level position, a candidate must possess one (1) of the following qualification combination options:

[OPTION 1]:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology
• A current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required

[OPTION 2]:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; AND
• Three (3) years of paid professional experience providing services that teach adaptive skills of blindness to the blind, low vision, or deaf blind individuals, including one year of supervisory or lead experience
• A current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required

The salary ranges for each level of the position is as follows:
Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Entry: $3,840 - $5,137 per month
Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Journey: $4,428 - $5,956 per month
Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior: $5,271 - $7,082 per month

Preferred Qualifications:

•  Effective in conducting superior work with a high degree of independence and autonomy
   
• Demonstrates superior documentation and qualify of work
   
• Knowledge of: concepts, principles, and practices of blind and vision rehabilitation and the use of assessment techniques to determine capabilities of and potential barriers for persons who are blind, low vision or deaf blind; principles, methods, and techniques used to assist individuals in adjusting to vision loss; public and private resources and services that address holistic needs of individual participants with disabilities or business-as-customer; principles of adult education, curriculum creation and revision, and instruction adaptability to address multiple disabilities; current trends, techniques, and tools in vision rehabilitation; techniques, information, and supports for assisting individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind to integrate into the community and competitive, integrated employment; blind community and consumer organizations, and other community supports; psychological aspects of blindness; theory and techniques of training blind and visually impaired persons to travel; nature and training of human senses; learning modalities; psychology; mental health; secondary disabilities and other conditions
   
• Ability to: work independently; supervise and direct others; develop curricula and in-service training; teach adaptive skills of blindness; analyze complex situations for emotional and physical safety of individual participant and take appropriate effective action including handling emergent situations, coaching, and provision of counseling and advocacy; work effectively with individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind, including those with additional disabilities; present ideas clearly and effectively orally and in writing; train peers; engage with businesses as a dual customer to address business-specific needs around disability

E_mail: dsbhr@dsb.wa.gov

Phone: (360) 485-1109

Cert: COMS

To apply visit: Vision Rehabilitation Specialist – Senior (In-Training - Location Flexibility) | Job Details tab | Career Pages