Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist

ACLD's Preschool Education Programs at Kramer Learning Center and The Alan and Ellen Spiegel Children's Center are designed to meet the individual needs of young children diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Quality education and therapeutic services are provided during school hours by a highly trained, dedicated staff of professionals. ACLD is looking for a Physical Therapist to provide therapy services to children in a transdisciplinary environment. Therapy focuses on assisting children in maximizing their level of function in their gross motor development. These services are provided in a developmentally appropriate play based classroom.

Responsibilities

• Evaluation and assessment of gross motor skills, orthopedic assessment including range of motion, flexibility, posture, muscle strength, and spinal curvatures, neurological assessment including muscle tone, reflexes, righting reactions, protective responses, and equilibrium reactions.
• Implement and coordinate physical therapy intervention strategies.
• Document progress using daily attendance sheets and quarterly progress notes and annual review evaluations.
• Consultation with classroom staff regarding methods and strategies to incorporate physical therapy into daily classroom routine.
• Prepare and set up treatment area for assigned children.
• Develop and implement various strategies to meet the gross motor goals and needs of students in their educational environment.
• Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual skills, guarding techniques, therapeutic facilitation and ambulation skills.
• Confer with families and team members to discuss progress and areas of gross motor need in order to develop individual education plans.
• Confer with other staff and team members to discuss children's needs and plan and schedule therapy sessions that will promote an integrated therapy model.
• Observe and evaluate students informally and formally by administering standardized tests to determine level of gross motor functioning; assessing orthopedic status through evaluation of range of motion, flexibility, posture, muscle strength and spinal curves; assessing neurological status including muscle tone, reflexes, righting reactions, protective responses and equilibrium reactions.
• Represent the agency as needed at CPSE meetings at school districts to review related service recommendations.
• Attend professional meetings, staff meetings, educational conferences, and therapist training workshops in order to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Train individuals/families in the proper use of orthotic braces, prosthetic devices and support devices.
• Adapt the student's classroom environment as needed to meet his/her physical needs.
• Instruct, motivate, safeguard and assist students as they practice exercises and functional activities.
• Administer active and passive manual therapeutic exercises and therapeutic massage as needed.

We Require:

• Master's Degree in Physical Therapy having graduated from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) approved program.
• New York State licensed and registered physical therapist.
• Experience with pediatrics.
• Must be physically able to handle all aspects of the supervision of the day-to-day activities of preschoolers which may include, but not limited to, running, bending, and lifting children.
• Bilingual preferred.

Position is an 11 month position, Mon-Fri 7:45-3:15, 35 hours per week