] Office of Human Resources - Montgomery County Public Schools

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT → CLASSIFICATION → TEACHER, VISION

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Teacher, Vision

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLASS DESCRIPTION
OFFICIAL TITLE: Teacher, Vision CODE: 1030 SQ/OQ: Not Applicable
WORKING TITLE: Teacher, Vision GRADE: AD MONTHS: 10
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF CLASSIFICATION: The Vision teacher provides itinerant vision services to students with visual impairments (ages3-21) in school settings. Assess students functional vision, conducts Learning Media Assessments, and is responsible for providing direct instruction in compensatory skills, i.e. Braille, Assistive Technology, Utilization of Low vision, Abacus, etc. Develops and implements an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) to address the child's visual needs.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Thorough knowledge of visual problems, impairments, and blindness, and their implications for early developmental growth and learning; thorough knowledge of birth defects and the interactive effects of vision loss on infants and toddlers with multiple impairments and thorough knowledge of specific implications on learning and development for children with visual impairments; Competencies must include the ability to diagnostically assess need across all developmental areas, e.g., sensory, motor, language, self-help, cognitive, affective and to implement a prescriptive instructional program for child and parent based on findings. Ability to develop parent education strategies and behavior management techniques. Strong report writing skills. Excellent communications and human relations skills.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's or Master's degree in special education specifying visual impairment; specific training in conducting functional vision and learning media assessments; experience and training in the use of assistive technology for the visually impaired; experience working with students who are visually impaired as well as multiply disabled.
CERTIFICATE AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: Maryland State Certification in special education specifying visual impairment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: (Special requirements such as lifting heavy objects and frequent climbing.) As required by the duties and responsibilities of the job which include the ability to lift/carry and transport adaptive materials and equipment to homes.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: (Frequent overtime or night work required, etc.) Completion of the MCPS Secondary Teacher Test.
OVERTIME ELIGIBLE: No

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Understand the student's specific visual impairment(s) and the implications for developmental growth and learning and be able to share this information in an appropriate manner with school staffs

Perform Functional Vision Assessments and Learning Media Assessments and compile the results and recommendations into well written reports for distribution to schools and parents

Adapt and modify the curriculum and school materials into accessible formats for the visually impaired

Choose an appropriate Braille reading program for a blind child and incorporate it into the reading program being used in the classroom by the child's sighted peers

Teach students how to read and write literary and Nemeth Braille codes

Develop an efficient weekly schedule that includes planning, observing, assessing, collaborating, adapting materials, direct instruction and consultation times

Teach students how to use low vision devices, such as hand-held magnifiers and video magnifiers

Select appropriate assistive technology for students and provide training on the technology so that they are able to access information visually and/or auditorally and/or tactually

Share community resources with students and families that pertain to blindness and low vision

Provide in-service trainings to school staffs on the best ways to work with a student with a visual impairment

Performs related work as required.
Class Established:
Date(s) Revised: 3/2007, 6/2010
Last Reviewed:

This description may be changed at any time.