Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern (College)

As a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern with the Bureau Of Blindness and Visual Services, you will learn how to teach skills that help customers live more independently. This opportunity allows you to build your abilities through training, observation, and direct instruction. You will support customers as they learn new ways to manage daily tasks and strengthen their independence. Join a team that encourages learning, growth, and positive change!

Through a structured training program, this position's focus is to provide vision rehabilitation therapy to blind and visually impaired customers in individualized and group settings, teaching coping skills and adaptive techniques to help customers adjust to blindness and improve daily living. As a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern, you will perform the following duties:

• Instruction Support: Learn to teach coping methods and adaptive techniques that encourage independent living
• Customer Assessment: Collect information, observe abilities, and help develop individualized instruction plans
• Progress Review: Monitor achievements, adjust goals, and support continued learning during instruction
• Family Guidance: Help provide counseling and referrals that support adjustment to vision loss
• Record Maintenance: Assist with documenting plans, progress, and closure reports to keep accurate records
• Community Assistance: Learn to offer consultation to programs that support individuals with visual impairments

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 7.5 hour work day
• Work hours are negotiable, Monday - Friday, with a 30 or 60-minute lunch depending on selected work hours. AWS (alternate work schedule) may be available.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time after completion of training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Pittsburgh. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $46,827.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Current enrollment in the final year of an accredited college or university bachelor's or master's degree or certificate program in rehabilitation teaching of the blind or visually impaired, vision rehabilitation therapy, teacher of the visually impaired, or education with a concentration in visual impairment.

Special Requirements:

• This position requires authorization by the college or university for the student to participate in the commonwealth's Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern program. Upon entering the internship, the student must be enrolled in the final semester of the appropriate degree or certificate program.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.