• Assists OTR with screenings, assessments and occupational therapy services.
• Follows and implements documented IEP plans or protocols.
• Documents student progress toward meeting established objectives and reports the information to the OTR.
• Assists the OTR during assessments with formal documentation.
• Prepares materials and performs clerical duties.
• Prepares therapy materials and/or equipment for use in the classroom and therapy activities.
• Adapts or modifies instructional materials and/or equipment as determined by student needs and abilities for teacher use in the classroom.
• Assists in maintaining student records, tallying data, preparing charts, records, graphs, and reports.
• Assists in organizing classroom activities such as displaying educational materials, arranging furniture to facilitate instructional requirements and creates an orderly and clean learning environment.
• May implement behavior management programs for students as designed by certified staff, observes and reports significant student behavior, behavioral patterns and/or other problems to the OTR.
• Qualifications/Employment Standards

• Occupational therapy equipment, materials, procedures.
• Current occupational therapy methodologies.
• Normal child development.
• Physical and mental disorders that can affect pediatric occupational performance.
• Learning patterns in children.
• Student behavior management techniques and strategies.
• Dealing effectively with attitudes and behaviors of students.
• Effective time management.
• Effective selection, preparation and presentation of materials.
• Maintaining student progress documentation.
• A variety of screening tools, protocols and forms of documentation.
• Effective implementation of therapy objectives.
• Operation of instructional and office equipment.
• Simple math in order to compile reports and maintain records and status reports.
• Effective and tactful communication in both oral and written forms to ensure successful interaction with parents, students, supervisor, school staff and community agency representatives.
• Modification and differentiation of lessons to meet students needs and progress (with guidance from OTR).
• Consultation with OTR when student’s progress is not consistent.
• Development and monitoring of carry over activities with classroom teacher and home.
• Development and implementation of creative, appropriate lessons/materials to ensure progress towards student IEP goals.
• Working with students individually and in small groups.
• Development of schedules for student services that meet IEP requirements.

Ability to:

• Receive instruction and training in relevant areas.
• Be sensitive to cultural, social, economic and racial characteristics and diversity.
• Learn to provide instruction in special subject matter areas or to children who have special needs.
• Actively engage in activities with students including play, bend, kneel, lift and sit at a child’s level.
• Read and write printed materials, computer screens and observe student’s movement (visual acuity).
• Ability to communicate in small groups, one-on-one conversations and to speak with small groups of children.
• Demonstrate competence in communicating effectively with children and parents, staff members and representatives of other agencies.
• Provide appropriate social, emotional and behavioral supports to meet student needs.
• Regulate and manage emotions during sometimes challenging situations.
• Request assistance when needed.
• Function independently with assigned tasks.
• Be able to work directly with all racial, ethnic, linguistic, disability and socioeconomic groups, while maintaining a kind and professional demeanor free of discrimination.
• Be flexible and adaptable to changing environments and schedules.
• Ability to change communication style to multiple cultural environments.
• Provide positive social, emotional and behavioral supports to meet the needs of all students.
• Collaborate and maintain a productive and safe learning environment.
• Organize and prioritize work & manage time effectively.
• Communicate in a professional manner, in formal and informal settings, with students, parents and fellow staff.
• Collect data under the guidance of the teacher or specialist.
• Keep information confidential.
• Prepare instructional materials, such as art and other activities.

Preferred:

• Experience working within a school setting.