Job Openings

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

11/18/2022

Would you like to be part of an amazing culture that helps Arizonans reach their full potential through temporary assistance? The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork.

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) performs an integral role in improving Arizona’s workforce by assisting individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, and those with barriers, to prepare for and obtain meaningful employment. DERS supports Arizona employers with recruitment assistance by connecting them to a skilled workforce.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Rehabilitation Instructional Services Specialist 3 with the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). This position works under the general supervision of the RAES Assistant Manager teaching independent living skills which includes Orientation and Mobility, Home Management, Personal Management, Communication, plus functional LowVision evaluation and Orientation and Adjustment to blindness as well as the provision of adaptive aids and devices. More specifically, interviews applicants, evaluates needs, determines feasibility, plans, and presents individualized instructional/adjustment program, and develops alternative teaching methods to aid a broad range of blind and visually impaired persons.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards,commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and inhoteling spaces. All work

Job Duties:

• Vision Rehabilitation Therapist or Orientation and Mobility Specialist Teach Independent living skills to blind or visually Impaired persons in appropriate environment(s) (home, skills center, work). This includes communication skills, home management, personal management, or orientation and mobility skills plus the use and provision of appropriate adaptive aids & devices, and/or orientation and adjustment to disability counseling.
• Record clients' performance and evaluate clients' progress.
• Interview clients for services, noting essential information and client's need and reason for applying; develop service plan based on assessment and knowledge of client's situation, gained from interviewing and gathering case information.
• Performs functional low vision evaluations.
• Attend meetings of community action or community service organizations; give and receive information; provide information and consultation; confer with and advise staff members of own agency or work system, apply knowledge and skills of own technical specialty; confer with and advise directors and staff of community programs providing education; training to blind and visually impaired persons.
• Develop and participate in the development of training aids, Instructional guides, written and performance tests and other instructional course materials as well as inventory items.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of functional limitations imposed by blindness/visual impairment.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques of instructing blind/visually impaired persons.
• Knowledge of adaptive aids/devices available for blind/visually impaired persons.
• Knowledge of needs and responses of blind/visually impaired persons.
• Skills in teaching a range of independent living skills to blind/visually impaired persons.
• Skills in behavioral observation, evaluation and interpretation.
• Skills in counseling blind/visually impaired persons to provide information, assist in the resolution of adjustment to disability problems.
• Ability to motivate.
• Ability to prioritize, assign and review work.
• Ability to effectively utilize resources.
• Ability to problem solve.

Selective Preference(s):

• Rehabilitation Teacher - Vision Rehabilitation Therapist: Master's degree in Rehabilitation Teaching, with certification as either a Rehabilitation Teacher or Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, or Low Vision Specialist, and counseling degree, or counseling skills or experience in addressing adjustment to disability issues.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Rehabilitation Teacher - Vision Rehabilitation Therapist: Bachelor's or master’s degree in Rehabilitation Teaching-Vision Rehabilitation, Special Education, Gerontology, Social Work, Education, Counseling or Sociology, or a degree with an emphasis in Rehabilitation or a closely related field, such as Low Vision Specialist, Teacher for the Visually Impaired or Occupational Therapy.
• Must be eligible to sit for the certification exam to become a certified Orientation & Mobility (O & M) Specialist as provided by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) or the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) within 6 months of employment.
• Successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify), applicable to all newly hired State employees.
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• to a search of both the Child Protective Services Central Registry pursuant to A.R.S. 8-804 and the Adult Protective Services Registry pursuant to A.R.S. 46-459.

Benefits:

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

- Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
- Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
- 10 paid holidays per year
- Stipend Opportunities
- Infant at Work Program
- RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
- Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Opportunity to work remotely (home office) on an ad-hoc basis

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work, you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us:

For questions about this career opportunity, please call (480) 392-3471 or email Shannenortiz@azdes.gov.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting (480) 392-4371 or email Shannenortiz@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

E_mail: Shannenortiz@azdes.gov

Phone: (480) 392-3471

Cert: Any Certification