Guidance and Mobility Specialist

Description and Responsibilities

Guidance and mobility specialists design, update, analyze, evaluate and implement guidance and mobility programs tailored to the needs of the visually impaired. Tasks include:

• Enabling patients to guide themselves and move with confidence, security and ease in a variety of environments
• Enabling patients to maximize the use of their functional senses and appropriate instruments or aids

The guidance and mobility specialist provides psychosocial support to patients and their immediate network and refers them to partners when required.

Source: Comité patronal de négociation du secteur de la santé et des services sociaux  (in French only)

Education and Training Requirements

Guidance and mobility specialists must have a post-graduate diploma in visual impairment care with a specialization in guidance and mobility (diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées en intervention en déficience visuelle – Orientation et mobilité  – in French only). This program is only offered at Université de Montréal. Université de Montréal also offers a master's program in vision science (maîtrise en sciences de la vision  – in French only) with a specialization in visual impairment and rehabilitation.

Required Interests, Skills and Personality Type

• Must be a good communicator and listener
• Must be able to solve problems and make decisions
• Must be thorough and detail-oriented
• Must enjoy working in a team with colleagues and other professionals
• Must know how to observe and analyze situations and people
• Must love contact with the public

Personality Type (RIASEC)

SIR

• S - Prefers to be in contact with people and to help them
• I - Prefers studying, understanding and solving problems
• R - Prefers practical work and handling tools

Work Environment

Guidance and mobility specialists work in health and social services network rehabilitation centres (in French only).