Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists in New York
Thinking about a career as a Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists in New York? Below are the key facts. Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual’s environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual. Excludes “Rehabilitation Counselors” (21-1015).
What do Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists Make in New York?
For low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists working in New York, wages run about $95,370 per year (or roughly $45.85/hour).Pay can range from $63,120 at the 10th percentile to $139,800 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $63,120 | $30.35 |
| 25th percentile | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| Median (50th) | $95,370 | $45.85 |
| 75th percentile | $112,170 | $53.93 |
| 90th percentile | $139,800 | $67.21 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in New York relative to the national average — is 1.12, meaning that low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists earn a median of $124,839 per year ($60.02/hour), below the New York median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 3,202,021 low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists nationwide. In New York alone, approximately 10,540 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 1,940 low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists.
Top New York Metros for Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
The metro areas below employ the most low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists in New York.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 9,630 | $102,750 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 920 | $77,550 |
| Rochester, NY | 680 | $78,890 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 540 | $83,920 |
| Syracuse, NY | 460 | $81,930 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 340 | $88,590 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 210 | $79,040 |
| Binghamton, NY | 140 | $81,390 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 70 | $80,300 |
| Kingston, NY | 70 | $99,180 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | 60 | $86,500 |
| Elmira, NY | 40 | $80,350 |
| Ithaca, NY | 40 | $79,200 |
Top States for Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists Employment
The table below shows the states where the most low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 12,020 |
| Texas | 11,700 |
| New York | 10,540 |
| Florida | 9,230 |
| Illinois | 7,410 |
| Pennsylvania | 7,200 |
| Ohio | 6,480 |
| Massachusetts | 6,250 |
| Michigan | 5,090 |
| North Carolina | 4,910 |
| New Jersey | 4,830 |
| Colorado | 3,740 |
| Georgia | 3,670 |
| Virginia | 3,670 |
| Wisconsin | 3,620 |
| Indiana | 3,440 |
| Washington | 3,410 |
| Minnesota | 3,360 |
| Connecticut | 3,000 |
| Missouri | 2,850 |
Highest-Paying States for Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
Where low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists earn the most: low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $119,470 |
| Oregon | $106,840 |
| Nevada | $104,770 |
| Colorado | $103,970 |
| Oklahoma | $103,510 |
| New Jersey | $103,340 |
| Washington | $102,360 |
| Arizona | $102,220 |
| Connecticut | $102,080 |
| Maryland | $101,880 |
Skills
Top low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Teach cane skills, including cane use with a guide, diagonal techniques, and two-point touches.
- Recommend appropriate mobility devices or systems, such as human guides, dog guides, long canes, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).
- Train clients with visual impairments to use mobility devices or systems, such as human guides, dog guides, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).
- Develop rehabilitation or instructional plans collaboratively with clients, based on results of assessments, needs, and goals.
- Write reports or complete forms to document assessments, training, progress, or follow-up outcomes.
- Train clients to use tactile, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and proprioceptive information.
- Assess clients' functioning in areas such as vision, orientation and mobility skills, social and emotional issues, cognition, physical abilities, and personal goals.
- Teach clients to travel independently, using a variety of actual or simulated travel situations or exercises.
- Teach self-advocacy skills to clients.
- Provide consultation, support, or education to groups such as parents and teachers.
- Teach independent living skills or techniques, such as adaptive eating, medication management, diabetes management, and personal management.
- Monitor clients' progress to determine whether changes in rehabilitation plans are needed.
Work Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Training and Teaching Others
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Thinking Creatively
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Scheduling Work and Activities
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Amazon Web Services AWS software, Microsoft Access
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Rehabilitation Professions
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Related Careers
Related occupations to low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists include:
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Mental Health Counselors
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
Also Known As
Blind Orientation and Mobility Therapist (Blind O and M Therapist), Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT), Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT), Global Mobility Specialist, Low Vision Therapist, Mobility Professional, Mobility Specialist, Orientation Specialist, Orientation and Mobility Instructor (O and M Instructor), Orientation and Mobility Specialist (O and M Specialist), Rehabilitation Specialist, Rehabilitation Teacher, Rehabilitation Therapist, Students with Visual Impairments Teacher (TVI).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-1122.01
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