Optometric Vision Therapist

Hiring Department: Psychology
 
Minimum Hiring Salary/Position Classification: $50,000; Full Time; Benefited; Exempt
Benefits: Includes single or family health care coverage (premiums paid for by the university), basic life insurance, EAP, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual and sick leave.  Optional benefits available: supplemental life, dental, vision, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.  
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

For full consideration, all application materials must be fully submitted by 5PM (Central) on the closing date.
Qualified internal candidates will receive first consideration.

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Position Details:The Full Position Description is attached to this posting in the bottom right hand corner.

Individual filling this position will provide magnocellular training, optometric vision therapy and evaluation for participants in a grant funded research project titled: Evaluating the effectiveness of magnocellular visual training for treatment of reading deficits in elementary school children.  This is a two-year position.
 
This position will be responsible for:
 
1.  Providing magnocellular training to 2nd-4th grade school children with reading difficulties. Specific training activities include Multiple object tracking, dynamic visual acuity, perception span, split attention using computer-based modules of the Senaptec Sensory Training Station; training of children to expand their visual field and increase the speed of target identification using computer-based activities of the Neurotracker system; and training of saccadic and pursuit eye-movements, contrast sensitivity, visual and auditory sequencing and memory as well as fixation stability, eye-hand coordination, speed and span of recognition, using the Sanet Vision Integrator Procedures.  Training of visual peripheral awareness, visual discrimination, saccadic eye movement, oculomotor control, visual attention and memory, scanning and reading speed using activities of the Optics Trainer Eye Tracking module.
 
 
2.  Providing Optometric Vision Therapy (OVT) to 2nd-4th grade school children with reading difficulties in 3 phases according to 2008 Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Protocols by: (In phase 1 of OVT) the task is to normalize the athlete’s accommodative and vergence amplitudes through a series of visual activities and computer-based tasks; (In Phase 2) the therapist’s task is to increase the athlete’s speed of response to accommodative and vergence stimuli through a series of visual activities emphasizing shift in focus from near-to-far targets and adjustment of focus to various lenses placed over the eyes; (In Phase 3) the therapist’s task is to help the athlete make larger accommodative and vergence movements by reducing the target size, changing the target distance or by increasing the power of the lens; The therapist will additionally work to eliminate the athlete’s perception of fixation disparity by using specially designed polarized variable vectograms. The therapist will also administer computer-based tasks targeting 3-D perception and training eye-tracking;
 
3.  Evaluating visual status and progress of therapy/training in 2nd-4th grade school children with reading difficulties by: Evaluation of Accommodative Facility, Vergence facility and Fixation disparity (vertical and horizontal); the Recording of Visually Evoked Potentials (VEP) in response to checkerboard and vsinusoidal targets of variable contrast and size; the Testing of saccadic eye-movements, eye regressions and accuracy of recall of reading material using standardized reading tasks of Visagraph II eye-movement recording system; the Assessment of Visual clarity, Contrast sensitivity, Depth perception, Near-far quickness, Target capture, Perception span, Eye-hand coordination, Go/no go, Hand reaction time and Visual endurance using the Senaptec Sensory Training station.
 
Required Competencies:
The individual must possess good interpersonal skills

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Minimum Requirements: 

• COVT (board certified optometric vision therapist) or an Optometric Vision Therapist who is eligible for board certification with at least 5 years of clinical experience administering Optometric Vision Therapy according to the guidelines of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) and evidence of continued education status with COVD.
• Certified in Nike SPARQ Sensory Training Station assessment and training have Diopsys VEP technician certification.
• Experience administering vision therapy under the license of the private sector sponsor (Valley Vision) of the grant; and preferred experience administering OVT to children and experience with neurosensory rehabilitation strategies in clinical populations (e.g. mTBI).
• Successful completion of a criminal history history background check.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the funded research project

 
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All information listed in this position announcement will be used by Human Resources, the Hiring Department, and EEO/AA for screening, interviewing and selection purposes.
 
Confidentiality of Application Materials
Note: Pursuant to NDCC 44-04-18.27, applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are confidential, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified the top three finalists who will be invited to campus.
 
EEO Statement
UND is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.  Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants are invited to provide information regarding their gender, race and/or ethnicity, veteran’s status and disability status on the form found at http://und.edu/affirmative-action/apcontrolcard.cfm.  This information will remain confidential and separate from your application. 
 
ND Veteran’s Preference
North Dakota Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 and if claiming disabled status, a current letter of disability from the VA dated within the last 12 months.
 
Clery Statement
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