Part-Time Occupational Therapist

School-Based Occupational Therapist

The role of the school-based occupational therapist (OT) is to evaluate and provide services to students with disabilities. These disabilities can be developmental, fine motor in nature, and limit a student's ability to succeed in the educational setting. The OT will recommend and carry out interventions to maximize function and independence and/or modify the setting and provide accommodations to meet a student's need.

Qualifications

Education/Certification:

• A Bachelor's or Master's (preferred) degree in OT from an accredited university
• A current license to practice OT from the TBOTE

Experience:

• At least 1 year of experience as an OT preferred.
• A new graduate with fieldwork in a school setting will be considered.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of the educational model of OT intervention and understanding of assessments and interventions utilized in the setting.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal relationship skills.

Responsibilities and Duties

Assessment:

• Evaluate referred students and determine eligibility for services.
• Document evaluation data and recommendations in an integrated Functional Individual Evaluation (FIE) within the timelines established by the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee.
• Provide the ARD committee, including parents, with information needed to interpret assessment and set annual goals for qualified students.

Therapy:

• Plan and provide direct and/or consult services consistent with a student's integrated Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• Complete session notes and related documentation weekly.
• Collect data, evaluate progress, and coordinate with teacher(s) to provide progress reports to parents/guardians per district timelines.
• Determine readiness for termination of OT services.
• Determine need for assistive technology (AT) and make modifications as a student's needs change over time.

Consultation:

• Consult with and train classroom staff and other service providers, regarding appropriate fine motor and gross motor lesson plan programming, functional developmental delays, sensory integration challenges, and the successful implementation of assistive technology and fine motor tasks. This consultation also pertains to remote learning.
• Consult with parents/guardians to facilitate understanding of OT services, and guide the implementation of activities at home.
• Consult with the student's private OT to strive for a coordinated intervention program.
• Consult with other RES campuses at the direction of the ResponsiveEd Special Education Director.

Student Management:

• Create an environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the maturity level, interests, and needs of the student.
• Follow the guidelines of a student's behavioral intervention plan (BIP).

Department Programming and Administration:

• Collaborate with the school director to keep the focus of the services relevant to the current needs of the students.
• Assist in the selection of assistive technology and other adaptive materials and equipment.
• Participate in Remote Learning by Zoom meetings with students and their parents in order to provide a continuity of services.
• Comply with federal and state laws, State Board of Education rules, and ResponsiveEd school board and Foundation School of Autism campus policies.
• Participate in and plan professional development activities to maintain and improve skills related to OT practice at Foundation School of Autism.
• Observe professional and ethical standards in accordance with the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (TBOTE) OT Practice Act and Rules, and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Code of Ethics.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• Maintain a professional demeanor in stressful situations.
• Be capable of providing therapy services in a variety of campus environments.
• Be capable of moderate lifting and any additional physical demands of working with special needs students.

Equipment Used:

• All equipment required to perform jobs duties and task previously described.

Physical / Environmental Factors:

• The physical demands 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. Responsive Education Solutions considers applicants for all positions without regards to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, marital status, veteran or military status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. ResponsiveEd is an Equal Opportunity Employer.