PRIMARY FUNCTION:

Under the direction of the Director of Student Services, the Occupational Therapist (OT) participates as a member of the educational team and is responsible for conducting appropriate pediatric occupational therapy assessments to determine a student’s level of function relative to the student’s age and educational placement in such areas as fine motor development, gross motor development, sensory-motor integration, self-care, and self-help activities for daily living. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for providing assessments, reports, and IEP goals for students evaluated for special education services and students who may need occupational therapy as a related service, necessary to assist students in acquiring physical functional performance skills needed to participate in and benefit from his/her educational program and function independently.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Administer complete educational related assessments and reassessments, including the interpretation of the developmental history, classroom or playground observations, records review, standardized testing, and non-standardized testing in areas of suspected disability; Interpret results, provide a comprehensive written report, present findings, and offer appropriate intervention strategies at IEP meetings

2. Participate effectively in the multidisciplinary IEP team process and work effectively with the instructional team, parents, and community members, and function as a positive, contributing member on an educational team

3. Communicate assessment findings effectively to the IEP team; including educational staff, parents, students, and agency professionals concerned with the students

4. Coordinate individual goals with the IEP team to ensure that goals are educationally relevant and will contribute to the student’s progress towards his/her educational goals and to improve the student’s functional ability

5. Implement the student’s IEP by providing occupational therapy services to students and through appropriate training for parents

6. Provide individual and group therapy sessions to correct specific areas of concern, including fine-motor skills and sensory-motor integration dysfunction

7. Attend IEP meetings and provide progress reports at the designated intervals to parents at designated time periods

8. Identify, evaluate, and design adapted equipment to assist students in self-care and academic activities

9. Maintain a schedule to meet the caseload requirements, develop procedures, reporting forms, and records to manage the program and comply with educational standards

10. Develop home and community programming to maintain and enhance the performance of students in their natural environments

11. Conduct training programs for district personnel on the role of occupational therapy as an educational service, normal sensory-motor development as related to learning, and identification of sensory-motor deficits

12. Work effectively with students, district personnel, community representatives, interdisciplinary teams and families

13. Use current best practice clinical skills for working with students with mild to severe physical, mental and emotional disabilities

14. Administer the occupational therapy program as needed in terms of budget recommendations, space and equipment recommendations, occupational therapy program development and evaluation

15. Participate in approved professional growth activities in special education and in pediatric occupational therapy

16. Possess knowledge of District policies and regulations and adhere to the same

17. Assist in the management of the program, interpret and implement rules relating to the program, make policy recommendations, evaluate results, and make determinations relative to effective service delivery

18. Work confidentially with discretion

19. Travel among all 4 schools to deliver services

20. Perform related duties as required

EDUCATION:

 Bachelor or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited American Occupational Therapy Education (AOTE) certified school

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Required:

 Valid registration with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and/or certification with the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

 Possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license

Strongly Preferred:

 Two years of clinical experience providing occupational therapy services with a primary focus on pediatric clients

 Experience working with students with a variety of disabilities and in an educational setting

 Strong background in sensory integration therapy and application in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and associated regulatory disorders

 Experience working collaboratively with families and public schools

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS:

a. Ability to use a variety of methods, techniques, equipment, and practices in occupational therapy

b. Ability to identify and analyze areas of developmental sensory-motor dysfunction

c. Ability to work independently with minimal direction

d. Knowledge of developmental foundations and neurodevelopmental implications as related to learning/behaviors and educational success

e. Know principles, methods and objectives of educationally-based occupational therapy, treatment and services

f. Know skeletal anatomy, neuromuscular function and dysfunction, kinesiology and occupational therapy modalities

g. Have an understanding of child development, common disabilities and theory/practice of educationally based occupational therapy

h. Know techniques used in the assessment and treatment of children with a variety of disabilities

i. Know educational and development needs of children with specific disabilities, especially autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

j. Know special education laws relative to occupational therapy services

k. Ability to interact effectively with co-workers and parents

l. Ability to maintain composure in conflict situations

m. Ability to administer and accept supervisory authority

n. Possess knowledge about a variety of decision-making processes and able to select appropriate methods in specific problem-solving situations

o. Strong organizational skills, leadership skills, analytical skills, and communication skills (both oral and written)

p. Ability to respond to a host of different demands without a loss of productivity

q. Strong ability to use technology effectively in communication and to deliver professional development

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must have the physical, mental, and emotional stamina to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position:

 manual dexterity sufficient to write, use telephone, business machines, and make adaptations to equipment and operate specialized equipment designed for persons with physical disabilities

 vision sufficient to read printed materials

 hearing and speaking ability in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversational distance, on the telephone, and addressing groups

 physical agility to push/pull, squat, twist, turn, bend, stoop, to reach overhead, climb, run, hop, jump, balance, and kneel

 physical mobility sufficient to move about the work environment (office, district, school or home site-to-site), drive an automobile, and respond to emergency situations

 physical strength sufficient to lift 45 pounds

 physical stamina sufficient to stand or walk for prolonged periods of time

 mental acuity to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and make valid judgments and decisions

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally have:

 Potential exposure to communicable diseases and contact with blood or other body fluids

 Potential exposure to physical injury from aggressive behavior

NOTE:

The list of Essential Functions and Physical Demands is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary in accordance with the requirements of the job.