Certified Occupational Therapist

Certified Occupational Therapist

Albany County School District One

Laramie, Wyoming

Position Summary:

The Certified Occupational Therapist is responsible for assisting in the process of screening and evaluation, and the development and implementation of intervention services as a licensed occupational therapist. The occupational therapist works with students identified with or suspected of having disabilities that interfere with their ability to perform daily life activities and participate in necessary and desired occupations. The occupational therapist is expected to implement individually designed interventions based on occupational performance deficits in the areas of personal care, student role/interaction skills, process skills, play, community integration/work, and graphic communication. The occupational therapist is expected to review outcomes and modify intervention programs. The supervising occupational therapist defines the level of supervision required in the work environment for assigned occupational therapy assistants based on recommendations by The Wyoming Board of Occupational Therapy.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Plans, implements and monitors activities that allow students to access and benefit from their specialized instruction. The focus of these services includes, but is not limited to: academic performance, fine and gross motor functioning, positioning, daily living skills, play/leisure skills, work skills, and sensory-motor activities.
2. Assesses and makes environmental and other adaptations to allow students to access and benefit from their program of specialized instruction.
3. Provides clinical direction to Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA).
4. Provides training to special education paraprofessionals, and others as appropriate, in carrying out day-to-day activities designed to enhance the student's physical, motor and sensory functioning.
5. Maintains an inventory of District OT assistive equipment.
6. Consults with school staff, administration and parents in improving students' motor and sensory-motor functioning.
7. Collaborates with school staff and/or parents in developing, implementing, evaluating and maintaining occupational therapy interventions.
8. Consults and collaborates with medical and other community providers, as appropriate.
9. Coordinates the delivery of occupational therapy services with classroom teachers, special education staff and other providers to ensure continuity and consistency in providing comprehensive special education services to students.
10. Assesses the motor, visual-motor and sensory-motor functioning of students referred for special education evaluation. Helps determine the need for occupational therapy services.
11. Maintains accurate and complete records, including testing and other relevant records.
12. Ensures that confidentiality is maintained for sensitive records and other information.
13. Responds appropriately to student behavior in the total school environment by enforcing school rules in hallways, on the grounds, and other areas of the school.
14. Participates in professional growth (such as professional organizations, coursework, workshops, and conferences) and other professional activities (such as school and/or District committees, taskforces, in-depth studies, or councils).
15. Demonstrates a sense of professional responsibility, such as demonstrating ethical behavior; providing accurate data and reports when needed; meeting deadlines; maintaining confidentiality; caring for the equipment and materials; and dressing appropriately; exhibiting sensitivity to those with special needs; maintaining good professional relationships with parents and community members; and presenting a good role model.
16. Other duties as assigned.

* Denotes essential functions

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Required:

• Ability to develop and maintain a positive relationship with students and to provide a climate conducive to testing and assisting students; ability to use effective communication skills; knowledge of special education law and regulations; ability to use time effectively; good organizational skills; ability to maintain a positive relationship with other staff by collaborating and working cooperatively with them (including supervisors); knowledge of physiological, psychological, emotional and educational behavioral development of children and/or adolescents; ability to lead meetings; ability to help groups achieve consensus; and knowledge of the various categories of disabilities and educational programs appropriate for students with those conditions.

Entry Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's Degree (masters/doctorate preferred); certification as a licensed occupational therapist in Wyoming.

Work Experience: Experience as an educator or related-service provider is preferred.

Physical Abilities and Working Conditions:

The Physical Abilities and Working Conditions listed in this section are representative of but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Working Conditions which may be required for this position. Albany County School District #1 encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment for this position and need reasonable accommodation of those disabilities to contact the Chief Human Resources Officer for further information.

- Vision: (which may be corrected) to read small print; view a computer screen for prolonged periods.

- Hearing: (which may be corrected) to answer telephones and tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.

- Speech: to be understood in face-to-face communications; to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone.

- Upper Body Mobility: use hands and fingers to feel, grasp, and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at the wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower the head.

- Strength: to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 15 or more pounds on a frequent basis.

- Environmental Requirements: encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors and outdoors.

- Mental Requirements: read, write, understand, interpret, and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile, and coordinate information and records.

- Additional Work Conditions and Physical Abilities: May require travel to multiple sites.

Evaluation:

Evaluation of this position shall be by the Chief Student Advocacy Officer/Principal.