Orientation & Mobility Instructor (Cadetship)

A GDS Orientation and Mobility specialist training a visually impaired client on his daily route.

**Overview**

Are you passionate about making a lasting impact in people’s lives? We are looking for a motivated and compassionate individual to join our team as an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Instructor Cadet.

**Orientation and Mobility** refers to the field of instructions designed to teach individuals who are blind or visually impaired to travel safely and efficiently from one location to another with the use of a mobility aid - the white cane (also known as the long cane). As an O&M Instructor Cadet, you will be trained to help individuals with blindness develop essential skills to move safely and independently through their daily environments.

**Your Responsibilities**:

- **Teach Safe Navigation**: You will learn to teach individuals how to use mobility aids like white canes to navigate various environments (streets, public transportation, and indoor spaces).
- **Enhance Environmental Awareness**: You’ll help clients understand their surroundings and plan safe routes, identify landmarks, and avoid obstacles.
- **Build Confidence and Independence**:Through training and guidance, you’ll help clients develop the skills they need to navigate the world independently.
- **Problem Solving**: You’ll teach clients strategies for handling unexpected challenges they may encounter in unfamiliar settings.
- **Administrative duties**:You’ll prepare reports and session notes on your learnings and client training programmes.

**Requirements**:

- Diligent, empathetic, patient, respectful, positive mindset, self-motivated
- Proficient with Microsoft Office, including MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
- Able to work independently and with a multi-disciplinary team
- Able to connect and coach people of various ages and backgrounds
- Physically fit, able to walk long distance and train outdoors
- Clear in verbal and written communications - you will be required to prepare reports and training session notes
- Comfortable in using digital tools in daily work such as the recording of case notes in the Integrated Relationship E-database Management System
- Proficient with Microsoft Office, including MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
- Willing and able to work on occasional weekends and evenings (time off in-lieu will be given)
- Confident with community engagement like public speaking, training to community partners will be a bonus

**Training and Development**:
When you join us, you will be enrolled in an **in-house training programme**, where you’ll receive mentorship and guidance from our senior O&M instructors, who collectively bring over **30 years of experience** in the field. This hands-on training will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to eventually become a skilled O&M Instructor yourself. The training process will be structured as follows:

- **Cadet (6 months)**: You will start as a Cadet, undergoing intensive training and learning the core techniques needed to support clients.
- **O&M Assistant**: After six months, you will progress to an O&M Assistant, where you will take on more responsibility while continuing to learn under the guidance of senior instructors.
- **O&M Instructor**: Following successful completion of the program and with demonstrated competence, you will become a full-fledged O&M Instructor, and take on more complex training programmes.

**Compensation and Benefits**:
As you progress through the program, you will receive **salary increments** with each progressing tier —from Cadet to Assistant to Instructor. As your grow professionally, you will also have the opportunities in the near future to train and mentor new Cadets, and take on leadership responsibilities.

**Bond Commitment**:
To ensure a long-term commitment to this rewarding profession, an **18-month bond** will be required once you complete the training and become a fully qualified O&M Instructor.

**What GDS Offers**:

- A collegial and flexible work environment
- Attractive basic salary, annual wage supplement and performance bonus
- 17 days of leave in a year, with additional day for every year of employment up to 24 days.