Position: Dual Sensory Impairment Specialist

Reports To: Director of Special Education

Job Classification: Exempt

Employment Status: Certified / Professional Staff

Work Year: Teacher Contract Year / As Assigned

FLSA Status: Exempt

Evaluation: Performance will be evaluated in accordance with Board policy and applicable administrative procedures.

Position Summary: The Dual Sensory Impairment Specialist provides specialized instruction, consultation, assessment, and support services for students with hearing loss, visual impairments, or dual sensory needs. This position supports IEP implementation, collaborates with school staff and families, assists with adaptive technology and accessibility needs, and travels between school sites to ensure students have meaningful access to the curriculum and school environment.

Dual Sensory Impairment Specialist Job Description

An Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TOD) provides specialized instruction, consultation, and support services to students with hearing loss, traveling between school sites to ensure access to the curriculum, develop self-advocacy skills, and manage assistive technology. They work on IEP goals, collaborate with classroom teachers, and train staff on hearing loss.

• Direct Instruction: Provide 1:1 or small-group instruction on auditory training, language development, speechreading, and self-advocacy skills. As well as providing language-enriched resource support for academics.
• IEP Management: Develop, implement, and monitor Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Technology Management: Monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain student hearing aids, cochlear implants, and classroom Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT/FM systems).
• Consultation & Collaboration: Train general education teachers, staff, and parents on the educational implications of hearing loss, classroom accommodation strategies, and HAT usage.
• Environmental Assessment: Evaluate classroom acoustics and suggest changes to improve auditory access.
• Assessment: Conduct functional listening assessments and specialized evaluations to determine academic impact.
• Assist with transitions between school levels and post-secondary opportunities.
• Collaboration with community-based audiologists and other medical personnel. Interpretation of audiograms and audiological recommendations.

An Itinerant Blind/Low Vision Teacher (Teacher of the Visually Impaired - TVI) travels between school sites to provide specialized instruction, braille training, and academic support to students with visual impairments. They adapt classroom materials, assess functional vision, teach assistive technology, and facilitate IEP goals for full participation.

• Direct Instruction: Provide 1:1 or small-group instruction: Teach Braille (reading/writing), large print, and visual efficiency skills (tracking, scanning). As well as providing visually accessible and language-enriched resource support for academics.
• IEP Management: Develop, implement, and monitor Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC): Instruct in compensatory skills, assistive technology, social interaction, independent living, and career education.
• Material Adaptation: Modify curriculum materials into braille, large print, or digital formats. Provide accommodating high/low tech equipment as needed, including slant boards, magnifiers, and software, etc
• Assessment: Conduct Functional Vision Assessments (FVA) and Learning Media Assessments (LMA) to determine learning needs.
• Collaboration & Consultation: Partner with classroom teachers, families, and IEP teams to educate on the impact of visual impairment on educational access and to recommend environmental adjustments (lighting, seating).
• Collaboration with community-based medical personnel. Interpretation of medical diagnoses, vision tests, etc.