Itinerant Teacher of the Visually Impaired - Infant Toddler, South Eastern MA

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.

You are a community focused educator looking to join our collaborative team. As our infant toddler itinerant TVI you will provide direct and consultative vision services to infants and toddlers (ages 0-3) and to their parents in their homes and within the community in South Eastern MA.

The TVI, using a family centered practice provides direct and consultative vision services to infants and toddlers (ages 0-3) and to their parents in their homes and within the community. Some of the children may have multiple disabilities. The teacher travels in the community to homes and is responsible for providing vision services, helping the family to understand vision loss and its impact on development, scheduling and maintaining communications among team members from Early Intervention as well as completing all paperwork associated with evaluations, reports, and billing.
Responsibilities include:

• Reads records, observes and assesses children, ages 0-3, consult with other Early Interventionists, medical practitioners, specialists, and parents or other caregivers; reviews individual family service plans (IFSPs). As part of a multi-disciplinary team, based on the functional vision evaluation for each child, prepare goals, objectives and lessons based on needs of the child and the priorities of the family.
• Using objective criteria and a family centered practice and approach assesses each child’s progress through evaluation, according to the IFSP. Participates in meetings and serves as a member of the team which is responsible for development and delivery of programs for each child and for overall program planning.
• Communicates regularly with parents, EI staff, and Community Programs administration or others, to assure continuity of individual programs.
• Recommends goals and objectives for future programming of individual students; make scheduling recommendations when appropriate
• Plans and supervises activities in a manner which will safeguard the health and safety of all children and assume responsibility under the teacher's supervision in an emergency.
• Designs 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, based on the needs of children ages 0-3.
• Maintains family and home and school contact through home visits, service narratives, or other communication methods, as recommended by the program supervisor; maintain appropriate records and provides these to the program file/database
• Collaborates with families, early intervention staff, classroom and agency staffs to direct and coordinate their involvement with the students in the home setting .
• Performs observations and when appropriate make referrals to Let’s Move Consult for the purposes of orientation and mobility. Submits required billing documentation for child and service and any other associated expense in accordance with established due dates, as outlined by the Community Programs administration.
• To perform other related duties and tasks as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Two (2) years’ experience working with preschoolers and/or school age children with visual impairments who may have additional disabilities and/or Deafblind
• Ability to complete and maintain First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and Crisis Prevention and Physical Intervention (CPPI) Certifications

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Master’s degree in Special Education
• Dual TVI/O&M certification
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
• Certification as a Massachusetts Teacher in Vision Impairment or commitment to acquire such certification within one academic year

Perkins seeks to enhance its community of intellectually, culturally, and socially diverse individuals to enrich the educational experience of our students. Applicants from a multicultural background, are bilingual, and/or who have life experience are encouraged to apply.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

If hired as a regular employee at Perkins, we have benefits that put you first, including an employer contributing retirement plan, tuition reimbursement from day one, professional development, 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.

Perkins is an equal opportunity employer. View the Perkins Notice of non-discrimination.