This information is for reference only. These classifications are no longer valid and were replaced 7/1/2020.
- Children's Specialist For The Blind
- What will I be doing?
- Do I qualify?
- Can I be successful?
- Benefits
- How do I apply?
This is professional rehabilitation work providing services to blind and/or visually impaired children and their families and/or guardian(s).
An employee in this class has responsibility for assisting blind and visually impaired children from birth to fourteen years of age in developing the physical, social, emotional and mental abilities which will prepare them to participate in the educational processes. Work includes responsibility for providing counseling and guidance in such activities as infant stimulation, self-help skills and developing concept formation. Work also includes providing guidance and counseling to parents and/or guardian(s) concerning adjustment problems which interferes with normal development. Supervision is normally received from a District Supervisor, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.
Provides casework and/or counseling services as deemed necessary and appropriate to assist the family and/or guardian in coping realistically with the child's visual loss to maximize the child's potential and minimize the traumatic effects of blindness on the family and/or guardian.
Provides parent education concerning infant care and stimulation and self-help skills for blind and/or visually impaired children.
Provides referral and resource information to schools, families and/or guardian(s) to assist them in obtaining needed services.
Serves as an advocate, when appropriate, to assist parents in obtaining needed services for the blind and/or visually impaired children.
Administers and interprets the Denver Developmental Screening, Maxfield Buchholz Scale of Social Maturity, Visual Efficiency Scale for Low Vision and other tests as needed.
Maintains case records and makes reports as required.
Performs other related work as assigned.
(The following minimum qualifications will determine merit system eligibility. Allowable experience and education substitutions are provided in italics below the corresponding minimum qualification statement; no other substitutions will be permitted. These minimum qualifications may also be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers.)
One year of professional experience in working with blind and/or visually impaired persons or in child development, special education, elementary education, pre-school education, child psychology, child welfare or closely related areas; and graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with specialization in special education for blind and/or visually impaired persons, child development, psychology, social work, sociology, special education, elementary education or closely related areas. (Graduate work in the specified educational areas may be substituted on a year-for year-basis for the stated experience.)
Please note that documentation that supports your eligibility (i.e. transcripts, employment records, etc.) may be required at any time during the application and hiring process. If you do not possess the minimum qualifications, please consider one of many other employment opportunities with the State of Missouri.
Do you possess the key skills which are considered essential for successful employment in this classification?
Considerable knowledge of child care, child psychology and child developmental stages such as speech and language development patterns.
Working knowledge of general psychology as applied to individual differences and personal adjustment problems.
Working knowledge of basic social service casework and appropriate counseling techniques.
Working knowledge of methods and techniques used in infant stimulation, concept development and elementary mobility skills.
Some knowledge of professional and lay literature in the fields of child rearing, education, and training blind and/or visually impaired children.
Ability to acquire a knowledge of grade one Braille and other communication skills used by blind and/or visually impaired children.
Ability to acquire a knowledge of teaching, educational and developmental aids and devices for use with blind and/or visually impaired children.
Ability to analyze, evaluate and understand the physical, emotional and social implications of severe visual problems.
Ability and skills to establish a productive relationship with children and their families and/or guardian(s).
Ability to administer and interpret a variety of tests such as the Denver Developmental Screening, Maxfield Buchholz Scale of Social Maturity, Visual Efficiency Scale for Low Vision, etc.
Ability to evaluate complex social, emotional and developmental situations in households with blind and/or visually impaired children.
The following link will provide you with general information about State of Missouri employee benefits.
View benefits