Job Description

Perkins helps children with disabilities find their place in the world. An international NGO, we are committed to delivering best-in-class education to children, providing immersive training and support to professionals and families, advocating for inclusion, and accelerating innovation for people with disabilities. At Perkins, we think courageously, act collaboratively, and we own our work. Join a supportive community committed to growth where your work makes a difference.

What you can expect as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired:

Experience working in a school where students needs come first and your contributions have a global impact. You will thrive in our supportive and gratifying working environment. As our TVI, you will provide direct and consultative vision services to pre-school, elementary, middle school children (3-15) and/or secondary(15-22) students and their teachers/team on the Perkins Watertown campus. You will work with the student teams in the Educational Programs providing independent vision assessments including LVE, LMA and other areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum. Some of the children may have additional disabilities.

We’d love to talk with you if you have experience with:

• Student assessments, and development and implementation of individual education plans
• Consultation to and in-service training for on campus education professionals while maintaining communications among team members in the school program
• Preparation of lessons and materials for each individual student, maintaining professional credentials, and paperwork associated with evaluations, contract services, reports and billing.

Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Expectations include the following:

• Read records, observe and assess students, consult with other on campus generalists, specialists, and parents or other caregivers, review individual education plans (IEPs). Utilize this information to prepare goals, objectives and lessons based on program approved curriculum or other appropriate resources to meet the students’ needs.
• Prepare and provide instruction through oral presentations, discussions, demonstrations, hand-on activities, modeling, and direct experiences such as engagement in hands-on instruction with various mobility devices and listen for oncoming traffic.
• Produce or secure Braille, enlarged print, oral or tactual material or compensatory devices needed to help the student arrive at appropriate goals.
• Using objective criteria, assess student progress through evaluation of tasks and assignments and report each quarter or according to IEP requirements on student progress in meeting individual objectives. Prepare other reports in the format prescribed by the program supervisor. Meet the program deadlines for submission of completed reports.
• Participate in meetings and serve as a member of the team which is responsible for development and delivery of programs for each student and for overall program planning.
• Communicate with parents, sending school districts, or others, to assure continuity of individual programs.
• Recommend goals and objectives for future programming of individual students and submit these in writing. Make scheduling recommendations when appropriate.
• Promote the student’s development of good work habits, good health habits, acceptable behavior and appropriate levels of independence.
• Provide appropriate structure and discipline to maintain order and provide a positive learning experience in the teaching situation, and within the different programs.
• Plan and supervise activities in a manner which will safeguard the health and safety of students and assume responsibility for students under the teacher’s supervision in an emergency.
• Design educational programming commensurate with the current best practice in the field of Special Education including: Functional curriculum; Age-Appropriateness; Community experience; Integration of related services; Context-based instruction; Expanded Core Curriculum, or as determined by appropriate assessments.
• Maintain family and home and school contact through home visits, log books, or other communication methods, as recommended by the program supervisor; Maintain appropriate records and provide these to the program file.

To be successful, you should :

• Have the ability to manage difficult or emotional student services situations; Responds promptly to student/family needs;
• Solicit student/family feedback to improve service; Respond to requests for service and assistance; Meet commitments.
• Have the ability to maintain confidentiality and remain open to others’ ideas and try new things.
• Have excellent communication skills both oral and written
• Work well as part of a team

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university required, Master’s Degree in Special Education and DESE certified TVI.
• First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Automated External Defibrillator (AED) required.

We have benefits that put you first, including an employer contributing retirement plan, tuition reimbursement from day one, professional development for our employees, personal days, paid time off and paid sick leave. Our campus is quaint, charming and historical, a perfect mix of legacy and modern buildings. It is located in the heart of Watertown, adjacent to the Charles River and less than 1 mile from food & entertainment at Arsenal Yards.

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