Occupational Therapist

• Position:
  Low Vision Occupational Therapist (OT)
• Reports To:
  
  Director Independent Living Services
• Status:
  Full Time, Exempt
• Job Classification:
  Specialist II
• Work Arrangement:
  Hybrid, 3 Days/Week In-Person, Servicing The Greater Bay Area
• Location:
  
  Santa Rosa, CA
• Salary Range: $72,905.20-$104,005

* 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 Low Vision Occupational Therapist (LVOT), provides in-person and virtual low vision training with clients (youth to older adults) from Light House Headquarters in San Francisco, within Light House sites, academic/work sites and home. The Low Vision Occupational Therapy assessment focuses on the functional challenges experienced by the client due to their vision condition and other concomitant health conditions. The training goals of the service are to work with the client in the use of living skill strategies, low vision tools, optical devices, lighting and environmental enhancements, providing the client opportunities for maximizing functional vision to complete daily activities in home, academics and employment.

While the low vision occupational therapist emphasizes training the client to use vision efficiently and effectively, the LVOT will also ensure clients are educated in blind skills that may enhance such efficiencies, safety and independence. Low Vision Occupational Therapy assessment and training services are supported by medical billing, fee for service and grant funding.

• Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy program
• CA State occupational therapy licensure or eligibility for CA licensure.
• Three (3) years of community/clinical working experience with low vision/blind persons;
• Low Vision Therapist certification required (CLVT or SCLV), or proof of participation in Low Vision Rehabilitation certification program to be received within 6 months of employment.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with the medical community regarding LVOT services required.
• Experience in working with Medicare, Medi-Cal or other third-party billing entities and their requirements for documentation is essential.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification required.
• Strong computer and database experience essential.
• Preference given to candidates with experience in working with people who are visually impaired; bilingual (Spanish/English).
• Ability to travel throughout the Light House service area (private vehicle or public transit)

• Conduct occupational therapy evaluations for clients with low vision.
• Develop goal-oriented plan of care and provide intervention in daily living skills, the use of assistive devices and other relevant rehabilitation activities.
• Collaborate and work with U.C. Berkeley Low Vision team and community ophthalmologists and optometrists regarding referrals and providing information about low vision occupational therapy.
• Provide individualized lighting recommendations based on the client’s varied needs for increased safety and independence in home, school, or work environments.
• Conduct electronic video magnification assessment and training.
• Grow and maintain electronic video magnification training and loan program.
• Provide training on adapted equipment and magnification devices to achieve client goals based on Low Vision optometry or ophthalmology prescriptions.
• Provide visual skills assessment and training to maximize client’s efficient use of their available functional vision.
• Provide individualized task or environmental modification recommendations and training to improve function with appropriate adaptive devices.
• Promote a healthy and satisfying lifestyle ensuring clients actively engage in their desired occupations, including but not limited to activities of daily living skills and leisure and social participation activities
• Collaboration with Light House training staff (Orientation and Mobility, Independent Living and Access Technology) to ensure all supportive training services are incorporated into client recommendations for developing blind and low vision skills.
• Educates clients on…