Job Title: Orientation and Mobility Instructor
Organisation: Vision Ireland
Contract Type: Full time, permanent
Work schedule: Monday to Friday, office hours
Reporting to: Learning Pathways Practise Lead & Lifecycle Manager
Closing Date: 5th October 2026
Position Overview
Vision Ireland's National Training Centre (NTC Dublin) is seeking an Orientation & Mobility Instructor to provide specialist assessment, training, and support for individuals with sight loss. This role focuses on equipping working-age adults with the essential skills to enhance independence, access employment or education, and improve overall quality of life.
As part of Vision Ireland's Employment, Training & Academia (ETA) team, the instructor will develop and deliver personalised rehabilitation programmes, ensuring learners can confidently navigate daily life and work environments.
This is a permanent role, offering an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a professional, supportive, and learner-centred environment.
About the role
- Assess the ability of clients to travel safely and confidently within area of the community they wish to access;
- Advise on and prescribe a range of mobility aids and provide specialist services to meet individual needs;
- Monitor and advise on the use of low vision aids as applicable to a mobility program;
- In consultation with clients, plan, develop, deliver and evaluate individual or group specialised services in line with clients' needs identified throughout the assessment process.
Responsibilities
Orientation & Mobility Assessment & Individualised Planning
- Conduct comprehensive functional O&M assessments to identify the impact of vision loss on safe and independent travel.
- Assess mobility within home, community, education, training and employment environments.
- Develop and review individualised O&M and rehabilitation plans based on assessed needs and personal goals.
- Identify barriers to independence and agree appropriate training, interventions and onward referrals.
Orientation & Mobility Training
- Deliver specialist O&M training to promote safe, confident and independent travel.
- Provide training in orientation, route planning, road crossing, public transport and environmental navigation.
- Assess, prescribe and provide training in the safe use of mobility aids.
- Introduce appropriate electronic travel aids, GPS and accessible navigation technologies.
- Support learners to transfer O&M skills to new and unfamiliar environments.
- Advise on environmental accessibility and mobility-related reasonable accommodations.
QQI Programme Delivery & Assessment
- Deliver and assess the QQI Level 4 Specific Purpose Certificate in Orientation, Mobility & Access (4S21459).
- Plan and deliver accessible, learner-centred theory and practical O&M training.
- Develop appropriate lesson plans, learning resources and assessment activities.
- Conduct practical assessments and provide constructive learner feedback.
- Maintain complete and accurate learner, assessment and certification records.
- Participate in internal verification, external authentication and results approval processes as required.
- Ensure programme delivery and assessment comply with Vision Ireland QA procedures and QQI requirements.
- Contribute to programme monitoring, review and continuous improvement.
Wider Vision Rehabilitation
- Provide practical rehabilitation training to promote independence in daily living and community participation.
- Support learners to maximise functional/residual vision through appropriate strategies and adaptations.
- Introduce relevant compensatory techniques, accessible formats and communication approaches.
- Support the use of appropriate assistive technology, referring to specialist colleagues where required.
- Integrate O&M interventions with the learner's wider rehabilitation goals.
Employment, Education & Community Access
- Support learners to develop the mobility and independence skills required to access employment, education and training.
- Assess accessibility and mobility barriers within workplace and learning environments.
- Advise on appropriate environmental adjustments and reasonable accommodations.
- Work with employment and training colleagues to support learner progression and workplace readiness.
Learner Support
- Provide person-centred support to learners adjusting to vision loss and developing new independence skills.
- Promote confidence, choice, self-advocacy and independence throughout the rehabilitation process.
- Engage appropriately with families, carers and other supports, with the learner's involvement and consent.
- Refer learners to additional Vision Ireland or external specialist services where required.
Multidisciplinary & Stakeholder Working
- Work collaboratively within Vision Ireland's multidisciplinary rehabilitation, training and employment services.
- Liaise with healthcare professionals, ETBs, employers and community services as appropriate.
- Provide specialist O&M input into individual support and progression planning.
- Contribute to service development and initiatives that improve access, mobility and inclusion.
Documentation, Quality & Compliance
- Maintain accurate and timely assessment, training, progress and outcome records.
- Document and review progress against agreed O&M and rehabilitation goals.
- Comply with Vision Ireland requirements relating to safeguarding, data protection, health and safety and risk management.
- Maintain appropriate documentation to support QQI quality assurance and programme governance.
Professional Development
- Maintain current knowledge of O&M practice, vision rehabilitation and accessible navigation technologies.
- Participate in relevant CPD, training and professional development.
- Keep informed of developments in vision impairment, rehabilitation, accessibility and inclusive education.
- Share learning and best practice with colleagues to support consistent, high-quality service delivery.
Team Contribution
- Participate in team meetings, case discussions, programme reviews and service planning.
- Work collaboratively to ensure a coordinated and person-centred rehabilitation pathway.
- Contribute to a culture of quality improvement, reflective practice and evidence-informed service delivery.
Qualifications and Requirements
Essential
- Recognised qualification in Orientation & Mobility (O&M), Vision Rehabilitation or Rehabilitation Studies (Visual Impairment), or equivalent.
- Professional O&M certification/eligibility for certification, such as ACVREP certification, or willingness and eligibility to work towards certification where applicable.
- Strong knowledge and practical competence in O&M assessment, techniques and teaching approaches.
- Knowledge of functional vision, common eye conditions and their impact on mobility and independence.
- Experience supporting people who are blind or vision impaired, including those with additional disabilities.
- Ability to develop and deliver person-centred, individualised O&M training programmes.
- Strong communication, caseload management and multidisciplinary working skills.
- Competence in standard Microsoft applications and relevant assistive technologies.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
Desirable
- Experience delivering and assessing QQI/accredited training programmes.
- Knowledge of Braille, low-vision aids, alternative formats and assistive technology.
- Experience of dual sensory impairment and complex needs.
- Experience in accessibility assessment/access consultancy.
- Knowledge of employment, education and workplace accessibility for people with vision impairment.
Why Join Vision Ireland as an Orientation & Mobility Instructor?
This role provides a unique opportunity to empower individuals with sight loss, helping them gain the skills needed for independent living and employment. Vision Ireland offers:
- Flexible working arrangements
- Opportunities for career growth and professional development
- A dynamic, supportive, and learner-focused environment
If you're passionate about inclusive education, rehabilitation, and disability empowerment, we encourage you to apply!
Further Information for Candidates:
All applicants must submit a current CV and cover letter outlining your motivation to apply.
The successful candidate will be subject to garda vetting.
Further information about Vision Ireland can be found on our website www.vi.ie
Informal enquiries to recruitment@vi.ie
Garda Vetting required:
Garda Vetting will be conducted for the recommended candidate as part of the selection process for the post in accordance with the VI Garda Vetting policy.
Vision Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
Vision Ireland is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, and everyone is afforded equality of opportunity. It is our policy to recognise people as a key resource required for successful attainment of the organisation's mission. In support of this, it is important to remember that differences between people, whether devised from their different backgrounds and personalities, cultures and/or their different abilities, can be a source of strength to the organisation.
We welcome, encourage, and embrace people of all backgrounds, to include those with disabilities. Accessibility plays a huge part of ensuring that all our employees and service users can access our systems and services with ease and respect, in a supportive environment, - enabling all to effectively engage our services and achieve our goals whether they are an applicant for employment or an employee requiring special facilitation.
