Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist PositionPart-Time Position Schedule: 20 hours per week. Work schedule to be determined by the Director of Exceptional Learners. Qualifications: Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited program; valid license to practice physical therapy in the State of Indiana; pediatric experience (former school therapist experience preferred). Regular and timely attendance is essential.Position Title: Physical TherapistDepartment: Student ServicesReports to: Mary Jo SartoriusPrepared by: Cheryl Waggoner Date: May 14, 2013Approved by: Doug Thorne Date: May 14, 2013Summary: The Physical Therapist conducts an appropriate school-based evaluation of students referred for related services under IDEA, and prepares written reports of the evaluations and findings; develops, implements and coordinates a physical therapy program within the school environment; provides direct and indirect physical therapy in educational settings/least restrictive environments to students, travels to and among schools to provide services, and maintains records of services provided.The Physical Therapist will perform therapeutic interventions including compensation, remediation and prevention strategies and adaptations, focusing on functional mobility, and safe, efficient access and participation in activities and routines in natural learning environments.Experience and Skills:Identification of physical impairments/delaysTreatment planning specific to pediatricsInterventions including, but not limited to:Facilitation of developmental motor skills.Postural awareness, ambulation, and gait training.Sensorimotor processing.Cardiovascular function.Wheelchair mobility.Adaptation and/or modification of equipment.Recommendation and monitoring of orthoses and other assistive devices.Prevention of initial or additional deformity or disability via early intervention.Transportation needs of student.Supervision of LPTA's within the scope of the Indiana standards of physical therapy practice.Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned):Gathering appropriate information from students, parents and other team members regarding the child's functional motor performance in school settings.Selecting, administering and interpreting a variety of screening instruments and standardized measurement tools.Examining and evaluating eligible students' strengths and needs to establish their ability to participate in meaningful school activities and routines with or without assistance.Participating in team meetings, including parent conferences.Participating in the IEP/504 process, including collaboratively determining the need for physical therapy as a related service (IDEA) or as a reasonable accommodation (504).Forming partnerships and working with other team members in the school setting to promote an effective physical therapy plan of care.Coordinating physical therapy interventions within the school program.Adapting environments to facilitate student access and participation in the educational program.Functioning as a consultant to other school personnel, parents, and students to coordinate the delivery of physical therapy services, which may include:Interpretation of assessments and recommendations;Explanation of the potential impact of developmental, medical and/or sensorimotor problems on school performance;Instruction of other caregivers in the physical management of students, such as safe lifting, positioning, assisted ambulation, gross motor programs, vocational tasks, leisure activities, and/or equipment use;Setting realistic expectations for student performance in school;Selecting, modifying, or customizing adaptive equipment and assistive technology.Educating school personnel and families to promote inclusion of students within the educational experience by developing, demonstrating, training, and monitoring the effectiveness of strategies and intervention activities, using data to make decisions. This includes the use of assistive technology for access and participation in the general education curriculum.Supporting the safe transportation of students.Referring students to other related service personnel and to healthcare providers as appropriate.Serving as a liaison among school, medical personnel, and medical equipment vendors.Qualification Requirements: Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited program; valid license to practice physical therapy in the State of Indiana; pediatric experience (former school therapist experience preferred).To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Education and/or Experience: Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited program; valid license to practice physical therapy in the State of Indiana; pediatric experience (former school therapist experience preferred).Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as computer software manuals and procedure manuals. Ability to write procedures for employees and communications to employees.Ability to communicate with employees to train.Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide all units of measure, using whole numbers and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.Other Skills and Abilities: Experience working with computers is necessary. Windows training/experience is preferred. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the community. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.Physical Demands: The physical demands described here 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.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is continuously required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; operate computers and other office machines and equipment; reach with arms and hands; talk and hear on the telephone and in other interactions.The employee must frequently lift and move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. There are no environmental hazards indicated for this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job the employee travels daily between facilities through outside weather conditions.The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. The individuals currently holding this position perform additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.