OIB Specialist I

REPORT TO: IL Program Manager

STATUS: Part-time; 26 hours/week; non-exempt/hourly

Position summary:

The Older Individuals with Blindness (OIB) Specialist I is responsible for providing services, advocacy, and support for and with consumers who have low vision and blindness within Teller and El Paso counties. The specialist will facilitate and promote OIB programs and related assistive technological equipment available to persons with low vision and blindness and develop and facilitate support groups pertaining to such within the community.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associates degree or equivalent experience.
• Desire to work with people with disabilities.
• Familiarity with assistive technology and software for low vision/blind consumers such as Jaws, Dophin, etc.
• Ability to travel within Colorado Springs and surrounding counties to meet with individuals and groups to present information and training.
• Proficient with computers, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Teams, and Zoom.
• Demonstrates The Independence Center’s core values of Inclusiveness, Flexibility, Person First, Accountability, and Integrity, as well as its essential team virtues of Humble, Hungry, and Smart.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience working with people with disabilities, particularly people experiencing low vision or blindness preferred.
• Experience training people how to use assistive technology to promote their independence preferred.

Essential Functions/Areas of Accountability:

• Support the philosophy, mission, and goals of the Independent Living programs.
• Work with consumers on assessing their needs and develop goals in support of their independent living. Services and supports may occur one-on-one, in support groups, in a classroom setting, virtually, or in person.
• Promote and/or facilitate independent living skills classes, workshops, and assistive technology demonstrations to consumers to encourage an active and independent lifestyle within the home and community.
• Assist consumers in learning/exercising self-reliance and self-advocacy. Provide support and resources supporting self-advocacy efforts, including upholding their legal rights and accessing resources.
• Perform systemic advocacy in the area of low vision and blindness to include increasing community and staff awareness. Develop contacts within local and state agencies to understand how state benefits work in conjunction with OIB needs, including assistive technology. Collaborate with other agencies to identify and develop supports within the community, including underserved areas that require OIB type services and supports.
• Complete all paperwork and documentation necessary to start a consumer service record or develop an ILP. In a timely manner, enter data into the database to meet State regulatory requirements.
• Accept responsibility for personal and professional development and engage in and explore opportunities for position-related training.

 Skills and Abilities:

• Possess integrity and reliability.
• Self-motivated, persistent, and flexible.
• Capacity to work individually and as a member of a team in a team-oriented, inclusive environment.
• Takes responsibility for high-quality work.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to analyze processes and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Possess decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Maintains a high level of confidentiality and works within the confines of HIPPA regulations.
• The capacity to empower individuals to advocate for themselves to maximize independence.

Physical/Environmental Requirements:

• Frequently lift, push, pull, up to 10 lbs.
• Office environment requiring ongoing computer use and extended amount of time sitting or standing.
• Internet access to work remotely if protocols are issued for remote work.
• To drive any vehicle in the course and scope of employment, an employee must maintain an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) as determined by The IC’s liability insurance carrier.  IC employees will be subject to reasonable suspicion, post-incident, and bi-annual random MVR checks to determine driving acceptability.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to empower the qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of this position.

This position may also require the performance of other duties as assigned.

If you are qualified and wish to apply, please apply by clicking here.