Job Announcement
Outreach Specialist
The Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB) at
Louisiana Tech University is seeking a full-time Outreach Specialist to join
our nationally-recognized organization.
The PDRIB fulfills two primary missions: to prepare professionals to work in
the field of rehabilitation and education with innovative knowledge about
blindness; and to conduct research which clarifies and deepens the
understanding about blindness and the best practices for promoting
education, employment, and independence for individuals who are blind or
have low vision. The PDRIB is a small, grant-based research and training
institute within the College of Education at Louisiana Tech University,
located in Ruston, Louisiana. The work of the Institute occurs on the
University campus, but also has a nationwide scale.
The Outreach Specialist reports directly to the Director of PDRIB and is an
integral part of our dynamic team. No experience in work with the blind is
required as we will provide necessary training preparation for national
certification and readiness to provide instruction in the area of cane
travel and other blindness skills.
Specific job responsibilities include:
* Provide direct Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) instruction
and other blindness skills to youth and adults on an itinerate basis across
Northern Louisiana.
* Develop and teach curriculum /training programs to Louisiana Tech
students in person and as online courses.
* Lead and manage training sessions, conferences, workshops, and other
training events.
* Write academic/professional manuscripts, including policies,
training curriculum, grant proposals, research articles, and marketing
materials.
* Maintain an active recruitment campaign to attract and educate
interested persons across the country in the programs offered at PDRIB.
Requirements
* B.A. required, (M.A. preferred)
* Credentialed with National Certification in Unified English Braille
(NCUEB) (One year may be granted for individual to obtain the credential)
* Credentialed with National Orientation and Mobility Certification
(NOMC) (One year may be granted for individual to obtain the credential)
* Willingness to travel extensively in-state and some out-of-state
* Ability to be self-motivating and self-directing
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Excellent attention to details
* Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking
* Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and web-based applications
* Willingness to learn new software programs and processes
Salary is commensurate with qualifications-compensation includes benefits
package.
Full-time employment based on a year-to-year contract, reviewed annually,
and contingent upon available funding.
Please send cover letter and resume to Edward Bell, Director, Professional
Development and Research Institute on Blindness, via electronic mail to: