Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Job Summary:  The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) works under the supervision of a school-based Occupational Therapist to support students with disabilities. The COTA assists with evaluations, delivers interventions to improve students' fine motor skills, sensory processing, and daily living abilities, and collaborates with the school team to help students succeed in their educational environment.

Job Responsibilities:

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) works under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist, following state guidelines, to provide valuable support to students with IEPs in the following areas: 

• Develop IEP goals and treatment plan in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist based on educationally relevant needs, determined by a comprehensive evaluation of a student’s abilities and challenges through utilization of standardized assessments, observations and clinical reasoning. 
• Complete screenings when appropriate for students identified through the MTSS process and complete components of student evaluations in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist for interpretation of results and development of IEP goals. 
• Design and implement individual intervention plans to address student specific needs in the following areas: fine motor skills, functional motor abilities, sensory processing, executive functioning and self care.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of student evaluations, treatment plans, data collection, progress reports and IEP documentation.
• Collaborate with teachers, parents and other team members to develop and implement IEPs.
• Provide technical expertise, guidance and training to school staff to support student needs in the school setting in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist.   
• Plan for and participate in parent conferences, Child Study Team/ problem solving meetings, and IEP meetings.
• Participate in department meetings and professional development opportunities to stay current with best practices in school based occupational therapy and special education. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Requirements:  

• Must be a graduate of an approved Occupational Therapy Assistant training program
• Must be certified by or eligible for certification by the Board of Registry of the American Occupational Therapy Association  (COTA)State of Illinois 
• Occupational Therapist License

Physical Requirements:  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to handle or feel materials. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must 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 the ability to adjust focus.

Overview of Benefits