Mississippi Emerge Center for the Blind OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR THE BLIND 310 North Cleveland Avenue Long Beach, MS 39560 (228) 241-2240 EMPOWERMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND The Mississippi Emerge Center for the Blind is seeking highly motivated individuals to join the staff as we build a world-class residential blindness training program. Established in 2024, The Emerge Center is a residential adult training program operating on the Structured Discovery model of blindness rehabilitation. The Center prepares blind and low vision individuals for high quality employment by giving them the skills and confidence they need to function independently in their homes, communities, and workplaces. The Emerge Center is seeking a director, an orientation and mobility instructor, and an apartment manager. Emerge Center Director: The Director is a manager and a philosophical leader. The director believes in the potential of blind people to live fully integrated lives and ensures that all aspects of the program reflect and reinforce this belief. Emerge Center Director Education and Experience Requirements: A bachelor's degree in rehabilitation teaching, rehabilitation counseling, education, special education, a behavioral science, social science, counseling, or related field and four (4) years' experience (at least one (1) year of which must have been in a supervisory role); or a master's degree in rehabilitation teaching, rehabilitation counseling, special education, education, a behavioral science, social science, counseling, or related field and two (2) years' experience (at least one (1) year of which must have been in a supervisory role). Orientation and Mobility Instructor: The Orientation and Mobility Instructor engages blind students as active learners. The students are encouraged to explore, problem solve and challenge themselves every day. Orientation and Mobility Instructor Education and Experience Requirements: A Bachelor's degree in education, special education, rehabilitation, a behavioral science, social science, counseling, or related field and three (3) years' experience; or a Master's degree in orientation and mobility, education, special education, a behavioral science, social science, counseling, or related field and one (1) years' experience. Orientation and Mobility Instructor Certification Requirements: National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC), or Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) certification. [Note: If the successful applicant is not NOMC or COMS certified, the individual must obtain certification within one (1) year after beginning employment.] Apartment Manager: The Apartment Manager supports and encourages the students to apply their non-visual skills to apartment life. The students cook, clean, shop for groceries, and in all ways live independently. Apartment Manager Education and Experience Requirements: A bachelor's degree in rehabilitation teaching, rehabilitation counseling, education, special education, a behavioral science, social science, counseling, or related field and three (3) years' experience; a master's degree in rehabilitation teaching, rehabilitation counseling, special education, education, a behavioral science, social science, counseling, or related field and one (1) years' experience. Apartment Manager Desirable Certification/s: Any of the following certifications will help support the individual's application but are not required: National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC), National Certification in Unified English Braille (NCUEB), National Certification in Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind (NCRTB), Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Blind (CVRCB). Within the first six (6) months of employment, new employees will complete eight weeks of full-time immersion training wearing learning shades (blindfolds) throughout the instructional day and during confidence-building activities. Prior Structured Discovery immersion training may substitute for some or all of the immersion training requirement on a case-by-case basis. Mississippi state government employees are classified under a system that includes pay grades and pay plans. Each position is assigned to a specific pay grade within a pay plan, and these grades determine the salary range for the position. The system aims to provide fair and equitable compensation based on job duties, responsibilities, and required experience. Interested individuals should send a resume and cover letter to: Ms. Dorothy Young, Director Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind dyoung@mdrs.ms.gov <mailto:dyoung@mdrs.ms.gov> (601) 853-5210
