Occupational Therapist for Children's Center
: Job Details :

Occupational Therapist (OT) Job Goal To provide occupational therapy treatment to students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Qualifications

Registered with the American Occupational Therapy Association and/or certified with the National Board of Occupational Therapy.

Master's Degree in occupational therapy or a related field;

Minimum of three years of clinical experience in pediatric therapy with emphasis on developmental disabilities and working in an educational setting.

Experience in working collaboratively with teams and families is desired.

Must meet the suitability criteria for employment and/or certification/licensure under the Alabama Child Protection Act of 1999 and Act No. 2002-457;

Valid Alabama Drivers License;

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

Reports to Director of Special Education Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Maintains student confidentiality.

Exhibit sound judgment in dealing with people.

Must have strong organizational skills.

Contributes to the school district by accomplishing related tasks as needed.

Intellectual, sensory, and physical development of children and young adults.

Application of occupational therapy techniques utilized in the assessment and treatment of children with disabilities.

Educational and developmental needs of children and young adults.

Theory of physical and mental rehabilitation underlying the practices of occupational therapy.

Principles, methods, and objectives of occupational therapy treatment, services, techniques of skeletal anatomy, neuromuscular function and dysfunction; kinesiology and occupational therapy modalities.

Principles of consultation, training, and supervision.

Accurately assess the developmental status and educational needs of children and adolescents.

Identify and analyze areas of developmental sensory-motor dysfunction.

Develop and implement treatment plans, goals, and objectives to correct sensory-motor dysfunction.

Collaborate with staff, families, and other support staff.

Provide consultation to classroom teachers.

Explain and provide training on occupational therapy and rehabilitative principles.

Effective oral and written communication skills.

Maintain records and prepare comprehensive reports, including State and Federal mandated reports.

Work as a member of the IEP/504 team, using current best practice clinical skills for working with children and young adults with moderate physical disabilities and learning challenges.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Provides occupational therapy services, as identified through the IEP/504 plan, to students enrolled in the educational programs.

Administers occupational therapy assessments to determine a student's level of functioning relative to their age and educational placement in such areas as fine/gross motor skill development, sensory motor integration, self-care, and the activities of daily living.

Writes assessment reports identifying the student's needs and proposed treatment strategies; writes individual student goals and objectives as part of the IEP; maintains progress records; participates in the IEP meeting.

Develops occupational treatment plans and goals for rehabilitative care to improve student functional abilities and enhance their ability to learn.

Provides students with individual treatment and group therapy sessions to correct specific areas of sensory-motor integrative dysfunction.

Develops occupational therapy treatment plans based on the educational goals for eligible students to improve the student's functional abilities within the school and naturalistic settings, in collaboration with the IEP team.

Monitors therapy programs and consults with educational staff regarding inclusion of appropriate occupational therapy treatment strategies into the educational program; evaluates the efficacy of the established program and makes modifications within the framework of the IEP process as necessary.

Participates in meetings between staff and families on the appropriate implementation of programs; collaborates and coordinates occupational therapy goals with the educational program.

Demonstrates educational and developmental strategies to students and families for successful home intervention of perceptual, motor, and sensory programs.

Provides interpretation and summaries of assessment reports to families; recommends appropriate activities and materials designed to support motor goals in the home.

Consults and collaborates with medical and community agencies that interact with staff regarding occupational therapy services for students.

Adapts equipment to assure proper positioning and to enhance functional performance of the student, addressing the student's neuromuscular deficits and needs. May include design and fabrication of equipment or recommendations for purchase of adaptive equipment as needed.

Maintain an in-depth knowledge of the laws and policies governing Special Education in Alabama, particularly as they pertain to the delivery of occupational therapy services.

Consults with other members of the educational team regarding the mandated and best practice roles of occupational therapists.

Administers occupational therapy programs as needed in terms of budget recommendations, space, and equipment recommendations.

Develop materials and provide resources for and provide professional development to administrators, educators, paraprofessionals and parents/guardians.

Attend IEP, eligibility, or other meetings as necessary and provide related therapy information.

Travel to school sites as required for observations, assessments, and programmatic recommendations for individual students.

Provides ongoing training of school staff, ensuring integrity and supporting the professional growth of staff.

Monitors progress and evaluates treatment effectiveness regularly, maintaining high rates of progress.

Completes reports and other paperwork within the established timeframes.

Participate in building-level meetings as appropriate.

Takes leave in accordance with Board policy and reports all absences to the district's absence management systems.

Reports to work on time and regularly as designated by work schedule.

Assumes other reasonable and equitable job-related duties assigned.

Terms of Employment The terms of employment shall be in accordance with provisions of the Board's Policy Manual, Students First Act or Fair Dismissal Act of Alabama and the Board's Salary Schedule. This is a 207 (10 months) day contract. Evaluation Performance will be evaluated in accordance with Board policies on evaluation of professional personnel. Source: Tuscaloosa City Schools, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Date: 04/16/2024