3 days a week
Primary Purpose:
Plan and provide therapy to
students with mental, physical, or emotional
disabilities. Help children to be prepared for and
perform important learning and school related activities and to
fulfill their role as students. Support academic and
non-academic outcomes including social skills, math, reading,
writing, recess, participation in sports, self-help skills,
prevocational/vocational participation and more, for students
with disabilities. Facilitate access to curricular and
extra-curricular activities for all students through supports,
design planning, and other methods. Play a critical role
in training parents, other staff members, and caregivers
regarding educating students with diverse learning
needs.
Qualifications:
Education/Certification
Bachelor's degree in occupational
therapy or related program
Valid Texas license as an
occupational therapist granted by the Texas Board of
Occupational Therapy Examiners
Special Knowledge/Skills
Occupational therapists should
know how to:
Observe a student engaging in an activity and provide
strategies to facilitate the student's full
participation
Reduce barriers that limit student participation within the
school environment
Utilize assistive technology to support student success
Support the needs of students with
significant challenges, such as by helping to determine methods
for alternate assessment
Identify long-term goals for post-school outcomes
Help plan relevant instructional activities for ongoing
implementation in the classroom
Instruct students and manage their behavior
Excellent organizational,
communication, and interpersonal skills
Experience
One year of experience as an
occupational therapist
Major Responsibilities and
Duties:
Therapy
1. Plan and provide a
continuum of services consistent with the student goals
contained in the student's Individual Education Plan
(IEP).
2. Evaluate student
progress and determine readiness for termination of
occupational therapy services.
3. Design, construct,
alter, and provide students with adaptive equipment and devices
to promote maximum independence.
Assessment
4. Assess students
with disabilities and make recommendations for the Admission,
Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee decision regarding
necessity, relevance, and purpose of the proposed related
service.
5. Participate in the
ARD Committee to assist with the interpretation of assessment
data, appropriate placement, and goal setting for students
according to district procedures.
Consultation
6. Consult with
educational staff and parents regarding occupational
therapy.
7. Provide staff
development training in assigned school to assist personnel
with selection and use of adaptive equipment, understanding of
occupational therapy program, and use of adaptive
techniques.
8. Consult with
parents, teachers, administrators, and other relevant people to
enhance their work with students.
Student Management
9.
Create an environment conducive to learning
and appropriate for the maturity level, interests, and needs of
the students.
10.
Establish control and administer discipline according to the
Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.
Program Management
11.
Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of the
occupational therapy program, and implement changes based on
the finding.
12. Assist
in the selection of equipment and adaptive material.
13.
Develop and maintain effective individual and group
relationships with students, parents, and school staff.
Administration
14.
Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other
documents required.
15. Comply
with policies established by federal and state law, State Board
of Education rule, and local board policy.
16. Comply
with all district and campus routines and regulations.
17.
Effectively communicate with colleagues, students, and
parents.
18.
Participate in professional development activities to improve
skills related to job assignment.
Supervisory
Responsibilities:
May direct and monitor the work of
a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Equipment Used:
Office machines, such as
computers, copy machines, telephones, and scanners, and
software for word processing and databases
Working Conditions:
Mental Demands/Physical
Demands/Environmental Factors
Maintain emotional control under
stress
Regular district-wide travel to
multiple work locations as assigned
Moderate lifting
May be required to lift and
transfer students to and from wheelchairs or assist with
positioning students with physical disabilities