School-based occupational therapy practitioners support academic achievement and social participation by promoting occupation within all school routines, including recess, classroom, and cafeteria time for students with motor and/or cognitive deficits.

Occupational Therapists help children fulfill their role as students and prepare them for college, career, and community integration by assessing students and providing therapeutic intervention utilizing prevention, promotion, and intervention strategies to eliminate or reduce impairments that interfere with students’ ability to derive full benefit from the educational program.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Certification:

· Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant from an accredited college or university

· Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant license in good standing by Texas State Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners

Special Knowledge/Skills:

· Ability to instruct and manage student behavior

· Excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills

· Knowledge of evaluation, habilitation, and rehabilitation of motor disorder and conditions for school pediatric population

· Ability to instruct and manage student behavior

· Consult and collaborate with professionals, parents, students

· Provide direct/indirect treatment for IEP

· Interact constructively in a varieties of cultures, families, socio-economic groups

· Excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills

· Ability to treat student in care and evaluate their specific needs to provide an action plan with personal goals or objectives

· Carefully transcribing all services provided

· Strive for professional development and timely completion of duties

· Provide training for the use of equipment

· Knowledge of computer systems and software applications

· Organizational, analytical and communication

· Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines, maintain accurate and audible records.

Experience:

· One-year experience as an Occupational Therapist Assistant

· One year in a school setting/pediatric preferred

· Current Valid driver’s license

· Current valid insurance

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Therapy:

· Plan and provide appropriate interventions in collaboration with Occupational Therapist, student, family, and school staff

· Plan and provide appropriate individual and group therapy to students consistent with therapy goals contained in Individual Education Plans (IEP)

· Evaluate student progress and determine readiness for termination of therapy services by completing progress reports and collaborating with Occupational Therapist

Assessment:

· Collaborate with Occupational Therapist to participate in Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee to assist in interpretation of assessment, data, appropriate placement, and goal setting for students eligible for Occupational Therapy services according to DAS procedures.

Consultation:

· Counsel and involve parents in remedial process

· Collaborate with classroom teachers and school staff to plan and implement remedial process for improvement of students’ skills

· Provide professional development in assigned schools to help school personnel identify and understand student deficits

· Communicate effectively with colleagues, students, and parents regarding needs of the student, student progress or mastery of therapy goals

Student Management:

· Create an environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the maturity level and interests of students

· Seek assistance form school personnel to establish and administer discipline according to the school Student Code of Conduct

Program Management:

· Collaborate with Occupational Therapist supervisor as required by state licensing

· Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of Occupational Therapy services and make changes based on the findings in collaboration with Occupational Therapist supervisor

· Assist in the selection of equipment and instructional materials

Administration:

· Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other required documents

· Comply with policies established by federal and state laws, State Board of Education rule and board policy

· Comply with all district and campus routines and regulations

· Participate in professional development activities to improve skills related to job assignment

Must be able to service the North Dallas Zip Codes

WORK DEMANDS

Mental Demands:

Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and write); interpret policy, procedures, and data, maintain emotional control under stress

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Frequent travel; occasional prolonged and irregular hours. Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing and pulling. Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds. Prolonged use of computer and repetitive hand motions.

License/Certification:

• Occupational Therapy License (Required)

Work Location: Multiple Locations