Independent Living Skills Specialist

• Position:
  Independent Living Skills Specialist
• Reports To:
  
  Director Rehabilitation Services
• Status:
  Full-Time, Exempt
• Job Classification:
  Specialist II
• Work Arrangement:
  Hybrid (3 Days In Person)
• Location:
  
  California
• Salary Range: $69,000 – $90,711

* Blind/visually impaired strongly encouraged to apply.

Founded in San Francisco in 1902, the Light House’s vision is a world where blind and low vision people flourish, and its mission is to promote independence, community, and equity created by and with blind and low vision people.

• Blindness Positivity: We take pride in our ability to navigate our lives as blind and low vision people.
• Disability Justice: We recognize the inherent worth of every person and commit to advancing equity and interdependency.
• Inclusion: We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to belong and live to their full potential, encompassing their identities, backgrounds, and abilities.
• Excellence: We provide the highest-quality services and products, and we continuously learn, improve, and innovate.
• Empowerment: We encourage self-determination, independence, and autonomy.
• Compassion: We make efforts to understand one another, and we treat every person with dignity and respect.

The Independent Living Skills (ILS) Specialist is a mentor and a teacher who helps blind, low vision and deaf-blind students of all ages and skill levels to learn various aspects of daily living skills independently and confidently. These skills are essential for the students’ self-confidence and success in home, school, and work environments.

The ILS Specialist works with the Light House Independent Living Services Team and other colleagues to provide assessment, training and support to the students and their families, using current and progressive techniques and tools. The ILS Specialist also coordinates and facilitates individual and group instruction, both in-person and virtual, in areas such as sensory skills, labeling and organization, home and personal management, culinary skills, financial management, and use of low-tech adaptive equipment and technology.

The ILS Specialist collaborates with the Low Vision Clinic team in San Francisco to assist patients to use lighting, magnification, and contrast, and refers them as needed for further training options. The ILS Specialist develops curriculum and training plans that foster independence, self-reliance, and measurable outcomes for the students. The ILS Specialist also provides mentorship and coaching for adjusting to changing vision, and respects the students’ health, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

• Master’s Degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, Counseling and Guidance/Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind, Teacher of the Visually Impaired Credential, or related field (such as Occupational Therapy) from an accredited school preferred. ACVREP certification eligible (within one year of employment) preferred.
• 2 years’ experience within the rehabilitation teaching / independent living skills profession, 2 years’ experience working with persons with vision loss and/or personal experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills with varied backgrounds and viewpoints.
• Ability to manage a caseload of a minimum of 10 students, write professional assessments, formulate individual goals and sequential training plans, progress reports and final reports.
• Ability to write articles for Light House outreach, as needed.
• Ability to move about within a variety of environmental conditions and independently travel throughout the community and/or arrange travel to train students.
• Strong computer technology skills in Microsoft Office Suite: including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Proficiency in a second language preferred.
• Proficiency in Braille (UEB) preferred.

• Assess individual needs of student; establish goals for instruction with the student, with timelines and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to motivate students as well as hold them accountable to themselves, their training and moving forward.
• Case management, ongoing communication and establishing consistent…