Occupational Therapist

Prism Academy provides a 10-month plus ESY, intensive, educational program for children with autism based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Prism provides an atmosphere where children, educational personnel, and families can interact and support each other. Through oversight and evaluation of individual programs, Prism can achieve its mission of ensuring that each child reaches their full potential.

Summary: The Occupational Therapist is responsible for providing Occupational Therapy treatment in the educational setting. In addition to providing direct therapy, the Occupational Therapist is responsible for providing consultative/indirect training as needed, participating in the PPT process and supplying required documentation, and working in collaboration with the school team to develop appropriate treatments for students. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for maintaining appropriate licensure. Therapeutic effectiveness, interdisciplinary collaboration, and communication skills are required of the Occupational Therapist.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Intervention and Educational Supports
  • Provide direct occupational therapy services as identified through the IEP to support students in the educational setting.
  • Collaborate with other school personnel and related service providers to support a cohesive educational plan for students.
  • Facilitate consultation and team meetings for a student as needed
• Assessment and Intervention Planning:
  • Conduct assessments relevant to the student’s abilities including screenings, and norms-based, criterion-referenced, and curriculum-based measures.
  • Communicate results in written and oral formats for Planning and Placement Team meetings.
  • Develop Goals and Objectives for the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) that reflect current needs and align with state educational standards.
  • Evaluate, using ongoing data collection, the effectiveness of interventions and modify as needed.
  • Utilize accommodations and modifications to support student learning.
• Staff Supervision:
  • As needed, supervise Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA) to facilitate Occupational Therapy treatment 
  • Design and implement individualized Supervision Plans for each COTA in accordance with AOTA guidelines including direct and indirect supervision strategies.
  • Be available and accommodating to staff questions and feedback
  • Design and utilize data collection and performance management for COTAs
  • Serve as a member of the faculty and provide training and feedback to BTs as needed
• Professional Responsibilities:
  • Participate in the hiring and interview process as needed for COTAs
  • Participate in leadership, school-wide, and team meetings as needed
  • Conduct self in professional manner and be a model for Prism’s core values
  • Develop and maintain documentation necessary for educational and state requirements (i.e. annual and triennial reports, progress markings, billing/Medicaid, daily notes and progress tracking).
  • Follow all ethical and professional guidelines put forth by the agency, AOTA, NBCOT, and state of CT licensure board.
  • Assist in expansion and support of the Academy programming within professional competence

 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Certified with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and must hold a valid CT Occupational Therapy License.
• 2 years experience as an Occupational Therapist
• Experience working with students in special education, specifically students diagnosed with Autism 
• Knowledgeable on childhood development, sensory modulation, neuromuscular function, kinesiology, and occupational therapy modalities
• Engage in analysis of one’s own behavior and seek opportunities for the development and refinement of clinical/professional skills
• Willingness to accept and ability to apply feedback
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Organized, driven, friendly

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledgeable and passionate about the science of Applied Behavior Analysis in educational settings
• BCBA certification and Connecticut Behavior Analyst license must be in good standing (or license-eligible)

Salary : $75,000 - $90,000