The Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking applicants for the position of Intake Counselor. This position is responsible for assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment through personalized support and early-stage vocational rehabilitation services.

The Intake Counselor plays a critical role at the front end of the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process, focusing on new referrals, early client engagement, application assistance, eligibility determination, and initial assessments. This position ensures that clients begin their journey toward independence and employment with a strong foundation, including counseling, guidance, and access to training in the alternative techniques of blindness to help them make a positive adjustment to blindness or low vision.

This is a full-time position with standard work hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. Workdays may be adjusted as needed to accommodate travel requirements. Regular travel is required, including overnight stays up to 1 to 4 days per week. Based in Des Moines, this position serves a regional territory covering Central and Northeast Iowa, with the potential for future expansion based on program needs.

The Intake Counselor works closely with key referral sources—including schools, American Job Centers, eye care providers, and community organizations—to ensure that individuals who are blind or have low vision are identified and connected to services as early as possible. As the first point of contact for many clients, this position establishes rapport, gathers key information, and evaluates needs to determine eligibility and readiness for services.

A vital part of this role involves collaborating closely with VR counselors in the field to ensure warm handoffs and seamless transitions from intake to service planning. The Intake Counselor is responsible for ensuring that clients continue moving forward toward plan development, maintaining active engagement and momentum through each step of the early VR process.

Duties and responsibilities to include the following areas:

Referral Development & Outreach

• Serve as the initial point of contact for individuals referred to vocational rehabilitation services.
• Develop and maintain strong referral relationships with schools, eye care providers, American Job Centers, and community organizations.
• Conduct outreach and presentations to educate partners and stakeholders about IDB’s mission and services.
• Represent the agency in the community to raise awareness and promote equitable access to services.

Applications & Initial Assessments

• Assist prospective clients in completing application forms and submitting required documentation.
• Conduct intake interviews to collect personal, educational, and medical background information.
• Coordinate with providers to gather ophthalmological, psychological, educational, and medical records as needed.
• Perform initial assessments to help identify client strengths, limitations, interests, and vocational needs.

Eligibility Determination

• Review assessment results and documentation to determine eligibility for services in accordance with federal and state VR guidelines.
• Complete eligibility determinations accurately and within required timelines.
• Clearly communicate eligibility decisions to clients and support them in understanding the process and available options.

Early Engagement & Service Initiation

• Facilitate a smooth and timely transition into the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process, ensuring clients begin receiving appropriate services as quickly as possible.
• Coordinate with vocational rehabilitation counselors and rehabilitation staff to initiate service planning and referrals.
• Help clients make informed choices about their goals, service options, and available resources.
• Case Documentation
• Maintain accurate, organized, and confidential case files in compliance with agency standards.
• Complete timely and professional case notes, eligibility decisions, and other documentation in the electronic case management system.

It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment.

Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing or business and experience equal to three years of full time professional work;

OR

The equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a rehabilitation counselor or teacher shall be considered as qualifying provided the employee has successfully completed training to meet the certification criteria established by the agency;

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time professional work experience for each year of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years.

752: Vocational Rehabilitation

6 months experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both that specifically relates to employment and training services for individuals with disabilities. That knowledge base will include an awareness of the unique needs of this population, laws relating to discrimination or reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, and an understanding of employment and training systems and services, especially as provided in Iowa.

AND

257: Career Development Counseling

6 months experience at the high school or college level or in the public or private sector such as Iowa Workforce Development or an employment agency. In the case of the latter, must have experience analyzing and assessing applicants’ work and education history and applying it to career goals.

• Must possess broad knowledge of postsecondary education and/or job training infrastructure.
• Must be able to communicate with program participants of varying academic and vocational abilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ability to read, write, and speak Spanish is preferred and may be considered a valuable asset in serving a diverse client population.

Address

524 4th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309