Independent Living Counselor

Dept of Health and Human Services

Blind Services

Rehabilitation Counselor (NS)

60042974

NC10

The Independent Living Rehabilitation Counselor (ILRC) serves individuals who are visually impaired, blind or deafblind who need individualized services to maintain independence in the home and/or community. A majority of individuals requiring services are over the age of 55. Services provided by this program assist individuals with adapting to sensory loss to reduce a sense of isolation, increase the ability to engage in meaningful activities and reduce the risk of injuries, depression and nursing home placement.

Job duties include but are not limited to:
* Conduct outreach in the community to identify individuals in need of program services.
* Complete a comprehensive assessment of each applicant for services.
* Interpret eye reports to determine the level of visual impairment and to assist with planning appropriate services.
* Determine eligibility for services
* In collaboration with the client, develop a service plan which includes specific independent living objectives.
* Provide guidance and counseling throughout the case management process.
* Make referrals to agency internal staff for specialized services, to other agency programs, including Vocational Rehabilitation, and to external resources needed for the achievement of planned goals.
* Provide instruction on basic daily living skills tasks both one-on-one and in group settings. Instruction areas include but are not limited to basic adaptive technology, cooking, personal care and communications.
* Manage a budget and ensure expenditure meets policy guidelines.
* Hire and train vendors to serve as Daily Living Skills Instructors.
* Coordinate in-person or virtual group training.
* Develop and maintain relationships with community partners in order to best serve clients.

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. The use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from an appropriately accredited institution; OR a Master’s degree in a related human services field from an appropriately accredited institution;

Charlene Michele Moore