Applicants should be fully qualified by the closing date of this announcement
Basic Requirements:
- United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- English language proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 USC chapters 73 or 74, to service in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English.
- Education: The individual must have earned:
A bachelor's degree from and accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education.
OR
A 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, technology, and industrial arts education.
OR
A bachelor's [or master's] degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined above) and obtained a certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually imparted individuals, or low vision therapy. This education must have included supervised practice; and
Completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the BRS, GS-9 grade level.
OR
Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or a directly related field.
Foreign graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from and accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.
- Certification: Required at all levels for the BROS
Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment.
NOTE: The Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) administers four (4) certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold listed below:
BROS who provide the following services must obtain and maintain one certification at the GS-11 level and tow certification at the GS-12 grade level granted by ACVREP as follows:
- Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)
- Communication and daily living therapy - Certificated Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT)
- Low vision Therapy - Certified low Vision Therapists (CLVT)
- Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS)
Grade Determinations:
BROS GS-12 (Full Performance Level)
Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, completion of a minimum of one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 grade level is required
Certification: Candidates must meet the certification requirements listed above. BROS at the GS-12 grade level must achieve two ACVREP certification to demonstrate full mastery in two areas of blind rehabilitation
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): in addition, candidates must be able to demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Skill to independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs.
- Ability to act as subject matter expert in the blind/vision rehabilitation field and as consultant, supervisor, and/or mentor in evaluating and treating patients in specialty or program areas.
- Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities.
- Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor.
- Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers and other stakeholders.
- Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors.
- Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis to develop short-term and long-term goals, and to plan for future utilization of resources.
In addition, candidates should be able to demonstrate the KSAs of the developmental level (GS-11):
- Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation.
- Ability to properly assess a wide variety of patients having multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions.
- Skill in development and wring of a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information form multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes.
- Knowledge of teaching methods and learning principles.
- Ability to employ interventions, unusual motivational techniques, and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achie3ve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan.
- Skill in recommending appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for patients with scope of practice, making adaptation and modifications as required.
- Ability to plan, direct and distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants, interns, and/or BRSs at lower grade levels and perform assigned mentoring duties for staff, students and interns.
Assignment: Individuals in this assignment may service as the only BROS at a medical center, or and outpatient clinic, or in patients' homes and communities, and are responsible for independent decision-making and independent care. Individuals in this assignment may service as a member of, or as a consultant to a specialty care team, such as the Polytrauma System of Care. BROS will demonstrate mastery abilities in two of the blind/vision rehabilitation specialty areas: orientation and mobility, low vision therapy, vision rehabilitation therapy, and assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals. BROS will also demonstrate advanced skill in the practice of the other content specialties in blind rehabilitation, e.g., computer training and manual skills. At the GS-12 grade level, BROS practice independently, seeking support for the Blind Rehabilitation Service National Consultant for the region when necessary.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.
Physical Requirements: Physical requirements include light lifting and carrying, walking and standing up to 2 hours at a time, moderate kneeling, ability to read typewritten and handwritten characters, ability to hear, and mental and emotional stability.