Primary Purpose:       The itinerant teacher for students with visual impairments travels to the students' assigned schools to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to vision loss. These services enable the students to learn in a variety of settings. Services for infants may be provided in the infants' homes or child care settings. The students range in age from birth through 21 and may have only a visual impairment or additional disabilities. The cognitive levels of the students range from severely impaired to gifted and talented.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Assessment and Evaluation

1. Perform functional vision and learning media assessments on new referrals and three-year re-evaluations
2. Interpret eye medical reports as they relate to educational environments
3. Contribute to the development of the IEP/IFSP with goals, modifications, learning styles
4. Recommend appropriate specialized evaluations as needed, such as low vision, orientation and mobility, and psycho-social
5. Consult with diagnosticians, classroom teachers, students, and parents concerning appropriate evaluations, modification, and test administration
6. Work as liaison with other agencies in the vocational assessment process
7. Administer various formal and informal tests

Appropriate Learning Environment

1. Assist in determining and procuring classroom equipment and materials necessary for the student with visual impairments to learn (brailler, low vision devices, assistive technology, computer) including ensuring necessary room modifications and lighting changes
2. Provide the classroom teacher with information regarding the specialized strategies needed to teach a VI student 
3. Provide braille, recorded/enlarged materials, and tactual symbols as appropriate for each child

Direct Instruction in the Unique Curriculum

11. Monitoring the students' progress in academic subjects and provide instruction in compensatory skills as needed in the areas the students may have difficulty with as a result of the visual impairment as outlined on the VI IEP supplemental page
12. Concept development (especially for infants and early childhood students)

Support Services

13. Provide assistance to students with visual impairments in understanding their attitudes and those of others concerning their visual impairment
14. Facilitate social integration and interaction with peers
15. Provide training and support to parents and teachers of students with visual impairments to enhance their children's independence
16. Participate with other school personnel and agencies to secure job-related experiences for students and participate in transition planning

Administrative/Record Keeping Duties

17. Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required
18. Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and local board policy
19. Effectively communicate with colleagues, students, and parents
20. Participate in professional development activities to improve skills related to job assignment
21. Distribute information to parents concerning workshops, conferences, and equipment acquisition
22. Communicate with low-vision specialists, ophthalmologists, and optometrists concerning exams, and attend exams when appropriate

Liaison Between Community and School

23. Provide information about district and/or regional vision programs to the schools and community
24. Provide information concerning recreational and summer programs to parents and students and assist with application forms and procedures. Such activities might include Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired summer school, Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (formerly known as Texas Commission for the Blind) summer work programs, or Lion's Club Summer Camp

Professional Standards

25. Maintain a reference library
26. Acquire information about current research, development, and technology by attending conferences, workshops, and area meetings and by reading journals in the field of visual impairment

Evaluation

A supervisor will evaluate performance on the job. Individual(s) knowledgeable in visual impairments should complete evaluation.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and do not represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that may be required.

Maintain emotional control under stress

District-wide and cooperative travel to multiple work locations as required

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that may be required.