Title: Occupational Therapist
Minimum Qualifications:
- Current Illinois Licensure and/or Certification appropriate to the position
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy (OTR/L) from an accredited college or university.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in a public school as an occupational therapist or pediatric related therapy preferred.
Accountable to:
- Director of Student Services, Building Administrators
Primary Objective:
- Under the general supervision of the building administration and the Director of Student Services, to provide occupational therapy services to students and their educational teams.
Major Areas of Accountability*:
- Design the individualized education plan (IEP) for each assigned student consistent with the total educational philosophy of the district, Common Core State Standards and state and federal law.
- Design learning experiences and utilize adaptive devices/technology to provide access to general curricular content to individuals with disabilities.
- Collaborate with colleagues in planning and constructing benchmark lessons, instructional interventions and/or programs.
- Provide direct services as needed to assigned students on caseload.
- Use appropriate assessment instruments pertinent to academic, motor, and sensory areas.
- Identify, select, and modify instructional resources to meet the needs of the students with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and assessed special needs in accordance with the district's philosophy, goals and objectives.
- Provide specialized instructional techniques and media through individual and/or group sessions designed to meet the educational, motor, and sensory needs of the students.
- Participate on the school-based intervention team, in-school staffing team and in the screening processes, as appropriate.
- Monitor and oversee services provided by paraprofessionals and/or other support personnel assigned to classroom and/or student in classroom.
- Establish techniques and procedures that result in an atmosphere for teaching/learning in which students can grow in their capacity for self-discipline.
- Establish two-way communication with parents, students, and fellow staff members in an honest, positive and constructive manner.
- Fulfill the requirements of attendance, punctuality, reliability, and responsibility with regard to school building and school district policies and procedures.
- Understand and accept students as individual human beings with dignity and worth, and helps them improve their self-image by helping them grow in their understanding of their capabilities and limitations.
- Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to plan for, to train, and to direct staff in the following areas but not limited to: methods of safe physical management of students (lifting, transferring, positioning, etc.), use and maintenance of specialized equipment, sensory modulation, postural needs/supports, therapeutic activities, activities of daily living, adapting classroom materials and environment, and self-help skills.
- Utilize a variety of techniques, materials and equipment to develop and execute therapy in an appropriate and effective manner.
- Recognize the differences in needs, abilities, and interests among students and adjusts instruction to meet those needs, abilities, and interests.
- Stimulate students to work toward maximum potential and to take pride in their accomplishments.
- Plan effectively both for the present and future with respect to establishing therapy strategies which are goal oriented and purposeful.
- Select, evaluate, and use effective materials, services, and methods of instruction to motivate students to learn.
- Establish rapport and understanding with school staff colleagues.
- Recognize that being a constant and avid learner is prerequisite to being a good therapist; the therapist realizes that learning and teaching are dual aspects of a never-ending development process.
- Report any and all violations of state and federal rules and regulations, and agency procedures to the Building Principal and the Director of Student Services.
- Act in concert with legal requirements and ethical codes of the profession.
- Demonstrate cultural competence and behaviors consistent with the core values, vision, and mission of School District 159.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
- Bending, carrying, climbing must be able to travel between job sites, lifting, pushing-pulling, reaching, sitting, standing, and walking.
- Must be able to lift, move, or push items of 50 lbs such as assisting children or moving/rearranging furniture.
Working Conditions:
- Includes extremes of temperature and humidity.
- Hazards include stairs and communicable diseases.
*All areas of accountability considered essential functions of the job.