The Durham Catholic District School Board is located just east of Toronto and is renowned for providing comprehensive Catholic education to over 25,000 students in 38 elementary schools, 7 secondary schools, and 7 continuing and alternative education centers throughout Durham Region.
We invite applications for the following position:
Position
Orientation and Mobility Specialist (Permanent - 0.50 FTE)
Location
Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB)
Student Services (assigned school locations)
650 Rossland Road West
Oshawa, ON L1J 7C4
Hours of Work
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Salary
As per APSSP Collective Agreement ($51,646 - $97,887 annually)
Start Date
December 1, 2025
Position Summary
Reporting to the Superintendent of Student Services, the Orientation and Mobility Specialist is responsible for instructing travel skills to children who are visually impaired, including the use of canes, dog guides, sophisticated electronic traveling aids, as well as the sighted guide technique. Specialists instruct children how to move safely and independently from one place to another. The incumbent will also teach children to orient themselves to their surroundings, providing skills and knowledge to determine distance and direction relative to observed, heard, or remembered features and to keep track of spatial relationships as they change during locomotion.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide instruction (1:1 basis) to students with a visual impairment, including those with additional exceptionalities, to navigate within school and community settings. May include pre‑cane/adapted cane skills, white cane skills, sighted guide, spatial and sensory skills.
- Provide instruction in the use of electronic travel aids.
- Consult with school personnel (Principals/Vice Principals, Teachers, Educational Assistants), parents, outside agencies, and Blind/Low Vision Program colleagues regarding accessibility needs for blind and visually impaired students.
- Document student progress and prepare related reports.
- Transpose instructional materials into braille, tactile format (raised‑line maps, diagrams), and enlarged print.
- Perform other duties as requested.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility, or completion of post‑graduate studies in Orientation & Mobility from one of the following recognized programs:
- University of British Columbia (UBC) certificate in Orientation & Mobility
- Mohawk College Instructor for the Blind and Visually Impaired program
- University of Montreal diploma in Specialized Studies, O&M and Vision Rehabilitation
- Current certification by The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) is an asset.
- Two (2) years’ experience instructing visually impaired students to navigate independently, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Prior related experience working in a school setting with students across a range of ages is preferred.
- Experience working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
- Working knowledge and/or certification in braille.
- Able to communicate in a sensitive, courteous manner with students, parents, staff and the general public.
- Strong communication and organizational skills.
- Understanding of and commitment to confidentiality.
- Must have valid driver’s license/insurance and consistent use of a vehicle.
- Criminal Background Check suitable to the Board is a condition of employment.
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