Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

KCK•Kansas City, KS

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is seeking a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) to join their team. This role is crucial in assisting a licensed Occupational Therapist in helping students achieve functional independence, thereby enabling them to benefit more fully from the educational environment. The COTA will support students in developing skills and behaviors necessary for mature, able, and responsible citizenship, contributing to continuous improvement in educational performance and preparing students for college and careers.

Requirements

Job related experience within a specialized field with increasing levels of responsibility is required.
Targeted, job related education with study in job-related area.
Associate degree in Occupational Therapy.
COTA degree from an accredited program recognized by Kansas Board of Healing Arts.
Current Kansas License as a COTA.
Kansas Bureau of Investigation Clearance.
Kansas Department of Children and Families Clearance.
Physical and Tuberculosis Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Assists other personnel as assigned by the Executive Director of SPED or their designee, and Licensed Occupational Therapist for the purpose of supporting them in the completion of their work activities.
Assists OTR with screenings and assessments for the purpose of identifying student needs.
Attends meetings, workshops and conferences for the purpose of receiving and/or conveying information related to job functions.
Collaborates with teachers for the purpose of developing plans and/or modifying curriculum to meet the academic needs of the student.
Communicates with students, parent/guardians, staff, and community for the purpose of facilitating communication between/among involved parties.
Develop an awareness of changes in OT (e.g. innovative ideas, techniques, practices, etc.) for the purpose of supporting and/or changing current method(s).
Facilitates effective occupational therapy interventions for the purpose of assisting the teacher in improving the students' academic and life skill success through specially developed OT student IEPs.
Maintains written materials for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference and/or conveying information.
Monitors individual students (e.g. collect observational data, etc.) for the purpose of providing assistance in preparation of progress reports/evaluations and ensuring a safe and positive learning environment.
Prepares therapy materials and/or equipment for the purpose of ensuring they are ready for student use.
Provides direct occupational therapy services to students according to IEP goals for the purpose of ensuring compliance with established practices and procedures.
Responds to inquiries (e.g. parents, teachers, staff, etc.) for the purpose of providing information or referring to appropriate personnel.
Support newly identified OT students for the purpose of complying with directives in their IEP.
Supports training for applicable staff on specific accommodations for students (e.g. devices, grips, motor- writing strategies, etc.) for the purpose of providing appropriate services as documented by the IEP.

Responsibilities

Assists students in gaining functional independence to more completely benefit from the educational environment.
Assists other personnel as assigned by the Executive Director of SPED or their designee, and Licensed Occupational Therapist.
Assists OTR with screenings and assessments to identify student needs.
Attends meetings, workshops, and conferences to receive and/or convey information.
Collaborates with teachers to develop plans and/or modify curriculum to meet academic needs.
Communicates with students, parents/guardians, staff, and community.
Develops an awareness of changes in OT (e.g., innovative ideas, techniques, practices) to support or change current methods.
Facilitates effective occupational therapy interventions to assist the teacher in improving students' academic and life skill success through specially developed OT student IEPs.
Maintains written materials for documentation, reference, and information conveyance.
Monitors individual students (e.g., collects observational data) for progress reports/evaluations and to ensure a safe and positive learning environment.
Prepares therapy materials and/or equipment for student use.
Provides direct occupational therapy services to students according to IEP goals.
Responds to inquiries from parents, teachers, and staff to provide information or refer to appropriate personnel.
Supports newly identified OT students to comply with directives in their IEP.
Supports training for applicable staff on specific accommodations for students (e.g., devices, grips, motor-writing strategies) as documented by the IEP.