Low Vision Therapists, Orientation & Mobility Specialists, & Vision Rehabilitation Therapists

Also Called: Certified Low Vision Therapist, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (VRT)

What Low Vision Therapists, Orientation & Mobility Specialists, & Vision Rehabilitation Therapists do

Provide therapy to patients with visual impairments to improve their functioning in daily life activities. May train patients in activities such as computer use, communication skills, or home management skills.

  • Teach cane skills, including cane use with a guide, diagonal techniques, and two-point touches.
  • Train clients to use tactile, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and proprioceptive information.
  • Assess clients' functioning in areas such as vision, orientation and mobility skills, social and emotional issues, cognition, physical abilities, and personal goals.
Industry Areas:

Health Care

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Work Context

  • Electronic Mail
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Telephone
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work
  • Contact With Others

Tools

  • Eye charts or vision cards
  • Braille devices for the physically challenged
  • Magnifiers
  • Writing aids for the physically challenged
  • Flashlight

Technology

Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Oracle PeopleSoft
SAP software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Device drivers or system software
Ai Squared ZoomText
ZoomWare Screen Magnifier

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Service Orientation
  • Social Perceptiveness

Knowledge

Education and Training
teaching and course design
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
psychology
Business
customer service

Education

  • 52% Master's degree
  • 28% Bachelor's degree
  • 12% Post-baccalaureate certificate

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

  • Investigative (Thinker)
  • Realistic (Doer)
  • Social (Helper)

Work Styles

  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Dependability
  • Concern for Others
  • Independence
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Values

  • Relationships
  • Independence
  • Achievement

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Attention

This is what Low Vision Therapists, Orientation & Mobility Specialists, & Vision Rehabilitation Therapists across the country typically make.

$31.35 / hour
$65,210 /year

Entry Level

$46.33 / hour
$96,370 /year

Median Level

$62.32 / hour
$129,620 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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