Job Description:
The occupational therapist leads the process in development,
implementation, and coordination of the occupational therapy
program in District 81. Screening, evaluation, educational
program, therapeutic intervention, and exit planning is provided
for students identified with or suspected of having disabilities
that interfere with their ability to function throughout the
school day. Professional judgment and clinical knowledge
are used to develop individualized programming based on
occupational performance deficits in the areas of personal care,
student role, interaction skills, process skills, play, community
integration, and graphic communication. The occupational
therapist regularly collaborates with other disciplines such as
general education teachers, special education teachers, social
workers, psychologists, music therapist, modified physical
education teacher, art therapist, speech/language pathologist and
support staff. The occupational therapist must feel
comfortable working with students with a variety of needs.
The district has an Autism program, a low incidence program and
inclusion programming.
Required Skills:
•
Ability to participate collaboratively with multi-disciplinary
educational teams to develop Individualized Education Programs to
meet student needs.
•
Ability to collaborate with general education staff to provide
supportive intervention strategies for students using a Response
to Intervention model.
•
Ability to gather and assess program evaluation data and use to
modify services at the programmatic level.
•
Ability to maintain current reporting, documentation, scheduling,
and billing in accordance with professional standards, state and
local guidelines, and reimbursement requirements.
•
Ability to determine the need for an occupational therapy
evaluation and to select and administer appropriate assessment
tools to evaluate the student.
•
Ability to interpret the evaluation data and write a
comprehensive report that reflects strengths and barriers to
student's participation and occupational performance.
•
Ability to develop sensory diets.
•
Ability to adapt and modify environments, equipment, and
materials including assistive technology.
•
Ability to use professional literature, evidence based research,
and continuing education content to make practice decisions.
•
Skill in effective oral and written communication.