Role Perceptions and Job Satisfaction of State Education Consultants for the Visually Handicapped.

This descriptive study of the State Education Consultant for the Visually Handicapped focused on: the role of the state education consultant as perceived by both the state vision consultants and the state directors of special education; the level of job satisfaction of vision consultants; and the education, training, and professional employment experience of state vision consultants. Survey responses were requested from two populations: (1) state vision consultants and (2) state directors of special education in the United States. Responses were analyzed from data collected in the following areas: Section A: Actual and Ideal Activities in All Areas; Section B: Actual and Ideal Activities in the Area of Vision; Section C: Influence on Activities; Section D: Job Satisfaction, and Section E: Education, Training, and Professional Employment. Major results of the study are as follows: (1) There is a discrepancy between actual and ideal mean activity times in all areas and in the area of vision as perceived by the vision consultants. (2) The state director perceives a discrepancy between actual and ideal mean activity times in all areas and in the area of vision. (3) State directors and vision consultants would prefer that the consultant spend more time in consultation and inservice activities than is actually spent. (4) At present 56% of the consultants spend over 60% of their time in vision; 34% spend over 90% of their time in vision. The mean preferred by consultants and directors ranges from 63% to 80%. (5) Vision consultants and state directors would prefer the consultant spend the greater amount of their time in consultation and administration activities, followed by a lesser amount in monitoring and inservice activities, in all areas and in the area of vision. (6) The vision consultant and state director show a high degree of similarity in perceptions of: actual and ideal times in all areas and in the area of vision; and high actual and ideal levels of influence of state directors and vision consultants. (7) Vision consultants show an average to fairly high degree of job satisfaction. (8) Vision consultants are highly trained for their positions in vision.Ph.D.Special educationUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/158539/1/8125215.pd