Occupational Therapist

POSITION: Occupational Therapist

SCHOOL / DEPT: Special Education

EVALUATOR: Director: Special Education

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Occupational Therapist will identify and evaluate children who may need special education services, meet with appropriate committees, and assist in making appropriate educational recommendations. The Occupational Therapist will serve with the psychologist, the educational evaluator and other staff as support personnel to the special education and regular education teachers. 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires any combination equivalent to:

• Bachelor of Science or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited college or university.
• Valid Occupational Therapy license by the state of Kentucky.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following are listed for reference. Success will involve the ongoing demonstration of desire and ability to perform responsibilities effectively, efficiently, pleasantly and with a focus on student success. 

• Design and evaluate the occupational therapy program, procedures and assessment.  
• Assists with the screening and referral process for students who are experiencing difficulty in the classroom as needed.  
• Prepare, implement and evaluate individual students in accordance with the district policies and OT guidelines.  
• Provide assessments for referred individuals, which may include developmental level, sensorimotor, neuromuscular, fine motor, perceptual motor, self-help, and pre-vocational skills.  
• Attend ARC meetings as required unless the parent signs the excusal form.  
• Provide annual reports, service logs and maintenance of appropriate records.  
• Assist the special education teacher in developing the IEP which will also act as the treatment plan.  
• Provide activity suggestions and modifications for the classroom and the home, when appropriate.  
• Provide therapy services as outlined in students’ Individual Education Plans.  
• Supervise and coordinate the strategies, modifications and assistive technology devices recommended for individual students to the assigned staff; provide overall supervision of the occupational therapy program at assigned schools.  
• Train school personnel on use of assistive technology devices/therapeutic equipment as necessary; maintain equipment in proper working condition.  
• Determine, recommend, and oversee equipment and architectural/environmental modifications which will allow the student to function more independently.  
• Provide consultation and training to school personnel and families as outlined in the IEP.  
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of occupational therapy and the laws and regulations concerning medical records and therapeutic services.  
• Utilize crafts including materials and equipment required, analysis of physical requirements, analysis of exercise or other contributions as treatment for special disabilities, contraindications for use as treatment for specific disability or when other conditions exist.  
• Knowledge or safety precautions including hazards associated with student specific activities.  
• Maintain confidentiality of students and/or staff.  Remain current and updated on school related occupational therapy practice through workshops, conferences, seminars and in-services.  
• Continue professional growth ECU as mandated yearly by KOTB.
• Strict adherence to the Policies and Procedures of the Rowan County Board of Education, the Employee Handbook and Kentucky Revised Statutes. 
• Fulfilling contractual obligation of days worked. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Regularly required to use hands for simple grasping and fine manipulatives.
• Regularly required to communicate effectively using speech, vision and hearing.
• Frequently required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 
• Occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 
• Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.  
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.