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: <mailto:ebell at latech.edu> ebell at latech.edu. Louisiana Tech University adheres to the equal opportunity provisions of federal and civil rights laws, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or disability. The Title IX Coordinator is Carrie Flournoy, President's Office, P.O. Box 3168; phone: (318) 257-3785; e-mail <mailto:flournoy at Jlatech.edu> flournoy at Jlatech.edu Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC, Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness Louisiana Tech University 600 Mayfield Ave / 210 Woodard Hall PO Box 3158 Ruston LA 71272 Office: 318.257.4554 Fax: 318.257.2259 <mailto:ebell at latech.edu> ebell at latech.edu www.pdrib.com ************* "I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops." -- Stephen Jay Gould