Occupational Therapist - 1099
About The Position
The Occupational Therapist provides school-based occupational therapy services to students in the DFW Area. The role includes planning and delivering individual and group therapy in line with students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs), evaluating student needs and progress, and supporting fine motor skills, self-help skills, and sensory processing. The therapist conducts assessments, develops clinical management strategies and diagnostic statements, and participates in Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee meetings. The position involves working with parents, teachers, school staff, and colleagues to support students’ progress and help school personnel identify and understand fine motor deficits. The therapist may supervise or direct a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), help select equipment and instructional materials, and evaluate and improve occupational therapy services. Administrative duties include maintaining required records and reports and complying with applicable laws, policies, and school procedures. Additional responsibilities may be assigned.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited college or university, or graduation from an accredited Occupational Therapy program before 2007 with a bachelor’s degree.
- Valid license as an Occupational Therapist from the Texas State Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners.
- Ability to use accepted tests and measurements to assess motor disorders and conditions.
- Knowledge of evaluation, habilitation, and rehabilitation of motor disorders and conditions.
- Ability to instruct and manage student behavior.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- One year of supervised clinical occupational therapist experience.
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, interpret policy, procedures, and data, and maintain emotional control under stress.
- Ability to travel frequently and meet the physical demands of frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling; occasional lifting up to 50 pounds; and prolonged computer use and repetitive hand motions.
Responsibilities
- Plan and provide individual and group therapy to students consistent with therapy goals in their Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
- Evaluate student progress and determine readiness for termination of therapy services.
- Assist students with fine motor skills, self-help skills, and sensory processing in the school setting.
- Conduct individual evaluations to assess students with fine motor disorders and conditions and determine eligibility for services.
- Develop clinical management strategies, procedures, and diagnostic statements by interpreting observations or data according to DAS procedures.
- Participate in ARD Committee meetings to assist with interpreting assessment data, determining appropriate placement, and setting goals according to DAS procedures.
- Counsel and involve parents in the remedial process.
- Collaborate with classroom teachers and school staff to plan and implement processes that improve students’ fine motor skills.
- Provide professional development in assigned schools to help personnel identify and understand students’ fine motor deficits.
- Communicate with colleagues, students, and parents about progress toward therapy goals and student needs.
- Create a learning environment appropriate to students’ maturity levels and interests.
- Seek assistance from school personnel to establish and administer discipline according to the school Student Code of Conduct.
- Develop and coordinate ongoing evaluation of occupational therapy services and make changes based on findings.
- Assist in selecting equipment and instructional materials.
- Compile, maintain, and file physical and computerized reports, records, and other required documents.
- Comply with applicable federal and state laws, State Board of Education rules, board policies, and district and campus routines and regulations.
- Participate in professional development activities to improve job-related skills.
- May supervise, direct, and monitor the work of a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA).
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.
