Occupational Therapist (Itinerant) - Huntsville City Schools

Occupational Therapist (Itinerant)

Job Code - SE-126

Job Grade - AC/02

Job Goal - To provide occupational therapy services designed to meet the individual needs of students in the areas of sensory motor, fine motor, perceptual motor, and other disabilities that interfere with the ability to function and perform daily activities.

Reports To - Special Education Resource Coordinator

Supervises - None

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides occupational therapy treatments to a wide variety of students in order to facilitate and develop sensory motor, fine motor, perceptual motor, and functional life skills as needed.
2. Attends Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings and collaborates with IEP team members for the purpose of evaluating, recommending, and implementing appropriate IEP goals, accommodations, treatments, and services for each student.
3. Collaborates with other specialists and professionals to identify and assess students with disabilities based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and determine the frequency, duration, and type of therapy services needed.
4. Provides consultation to team members regarding reinforcement of strategies and use of adaptive equipment for functional mobility positioning and safe participation in daily activities.
5. Evaluates and formulates student occupational profiles through a variety of functional, behavioral, and standardized assessments, skilled observation, checklists, histories, and interviews.
6. Assesses students' performance criteria in the areas of sensory motor, fine motor, perceptual motor, and functional life skills.
7. Adapts and modifies classroom environments as requested and trains instructional staff to meet students' needs and increase students' ability to function as independently as possible.
8. Monitors and reports students' progress and response to occupational therapy and accommodations and works with students, teachers, and parents to make modifications as necessary.
9. Works directly with students and their families to provide information and training, establish plans, improve daily functionality, and develop realistic goals related to the use of occupational therapy techniques and equipment at home.
10. Collaborates with various medical professionals, outside agencies, service providers, and coordinators in the physical therapy plan for child, including obtaining the annual physicians referral.
11. Researches available resources, materials, and equipment for possible inclusion into therapy techniques in alignment with district initiatives and student IEPs.
12. Collects and maintains proper documentation (i.e., student files, various records, confidential data, etc.) for the purpose of recording activities, providing reliable information, and identifying progress with identified goals.
13. Responds to a wide variety of inquiries from staff, school personnel, professional organizations, and others for the purpose of resolving issues, providing information, and/or referring to appropriate personnel.
14. Keeps abreast of relevant trends and developments in occupational therapy through research and continuous education, determines their appropriateness for inclusion in the district's initiatives, and makes recommendations as requested.
15. Participates in a variety of approved trainings and activities to address professional learning needs, including in-service programs, seminars, conferences, workshops, etc.
16. Adheres to and communicates administrative procedures, local Board policies, and applicable state and federal rules and regulations as pertaining to special education and gifted program evaluation guidelines, resources, and materials.
17. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in an approved occupational therapy program. Must maintain a current license from Alabama Board of Occupational Therapy.

Physical Requirements

Requires exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10-25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly.

Terms of Employment

Ten month year. Salary as recommended by the Superintendent and approved by the Board.

This specification has been designed to represent the general nature and level of work found in this position. As such, it is not intended to contain all duties and qualifications of an employee in this position. Consequently, it is not intended to be perceived as an identification of essential job functions as required by ADA. Note: The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or logical assignment to that position.

Revision Date: July 1, 2022