Physical Therapist Assistant

**Now Hiring for 2025 - 2026 School Year**

Accel is a private, nonprofit organization for children with special needs, ages 5-22, and adults 18 and over. ACCEL provides innovative, individualized and comprehensive educational, therapeutic, vocational, behavioral, life skills, and transitional services to individuals with a wide range of disabilities including autism, intellectual, physical disabilities and health impairments. You will have the opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary setting. The team includes Special Education Teachers, OTs, PTs, Music Therapist, Aquatic Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and more. This is a great opportunity to expand Assistive Technology and AAC knowledge.

BENEFITS OF ACCEL EMPLOYMENT :

• Competitive Pay.
• Paid School Holidays including: Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break. Additionally, we observe federal holidays which often involve three-day weekends!
• Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision, life, and supplemental).
• Paid Time Off and Sick Leave.
• 401K
• 10-Month Position. (August - May)

SUMMARY:

The Physical Therapist Assistant is responsible for providing physical therapy treatments under the supervision of a qualified Physical Therapist in accordance with the Plan of Care. Must have solid knowledge of principles and practices of physical therapy, good written and verbal communication skills, and ability to develop good interpersonal relationships with clients, staff and other multidisciplinary team members and have the ability to work with clients in a school setting.

ESSENTIAL DUTIESAND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs physical therapy procedures in the school setting, as established by the Physical Therapist.
• Instructs, motivates, and assists clients in learning and improving functional activities.
• Teaches basic principles of good posture and body mechanics in relation to changing needs of individuals in all age groups.
• Instructs client and family members on the proper use of prosthetic devices.
• Helps client utilize the resources of their community and family.
• Performs appropriate measurement and assessment techniques within the knowledge and limits of practice to assist the Physical Therapist with the monitoring of client status (i.e. Goniometry, Manual Muscle Testing, Gait Analysis, etc.).
• Follows established Individual Education Plans (IEP) and collaborates with Physical Therapist on the development of those plans.
• Participates in Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) and IEP meetings, when appropriate.
• Participates in the individual education planning, collaborates with teachers, as appropriate, for each client to receive physical therapy services.
• Works collaboratively and communicates effectively with multidisciplinary team to implement therapeutic and educational programs.
• Observes client’s progress and response to treatment and reports findings to the Physical Therapist through regular ongoing communication.
• Reports changes in the client’s condition to the supervising Physical Therapist.
• Modifies Plan of Care after subsequent authorization, instruction, and supervision of the Physical Therapist.
• Utilizes independent judgment to modify an intervention only in accordance with changes in client/client status and within the scope of the plan of care that has been established by the physical therapist.
• Develops and maintains a professional relationship with parents/caregivers and informs them of the client’s progress.
• Submits all reports within designated time frames.
• Maintains an accurate record keeping system.
• Maintains attendance and hourly contact records for Medicaid.
• Submits Medicaid billing as directed.
• Maintains a pattern of prompt and regular attendance.
• Complies with ACCEL policies and procedures; adheres to chain of command.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Candidates for employment must have a TB test (negative chest x-ray or skin test) performed or provide documentation of TB tests performed within three months of employment.

From time to time, ACCEL will require employees to undergo drug-use or an alcohol impairment test on a random basis.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Associate’s degree in physical therapist assistant program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association.
• Physical Therapist Assistant certification with the State of Arizona.
• 2000 hours of experience in previous employment

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, staff, districts, agencies, and members of the community. Ability to read, analyze, write, and complete educational documents used in the school setting.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here 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.

This position may require duties including lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling more than 50 pounds, and requires frequent standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, kneeling, and reaching. Good visual acuity as well as good manual dexterity and the ability to be readily understood are essential. Must be able to work in a occasionally stressful environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment is representative of what an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Students may exhibit inappropriate physical behavior which may include hitting, biting, kicking, etc.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Associate (Required)

License/Certification:

• Arizona Physical Therapist Assistant Certification (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Phoenix, AZ 85051 (Required)

Work Location: In person