Occupational Therapist

Helen Keller Services•Islandia, NY

41d•$80,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

Helen Keller Services (HKS) is expanding its Children's Learning Center to two new locations in Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island. These facilities will serve preschool children who are blind or have low vision, and may also have multiple disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or pervasive developmental delays. This expansion aims to provide high-quality early education and support services to Long Island families. An Occupational Therapist is needed for the new Suffolk County Preschool in Islandia, NY. The role involves providing one-to-one and/or group therapy sessions for preschool children whose IEPs mandate occupational therapy, up to 10 sessions per day. Responsibilities include documenting sessions, composing reports, participating in team meetings, and maintaining a professional workspace. The therapist will also educate students' parents and in-classroom staff on occupational therapy goals, collaborating with therapists, teachers, and the principal to integrate monthly curriculum themes into therapy. Key therapy elements include fine motor skills (hand strength, dexterity, handwriting, keyboard/braille use), adaptive equipment use (feeding, splints, seating), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, and fine motor therapeutic interventions (active and passive) to improve daily living tasks. Participation in Orthotic and Equipment Clinics is also required. The position requires a commitment to students and families, respecting their participation in decision-making, facilitating independence in fine motor, sensory processing, self-care, and executive functioning skills, and communicating regularly with families.

Requirements

Masters or Doctoral Degree from a College accredited in the field of Occupational Therapy required.
Must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
Must successfully pass the National Occupational Therapy Test.
Must register with the National Board for Certification in Occupation Therapy.
Must register with the New York State Office of Professions.
Occupational Therapists are required to earn 36 educational units during their three-year renewal cycle.
Renewed every 3 years as a National Board-Certified Occupational Therapist.
Renewed every 3 years with the New York State Office of Professions.

Responsibilities

Record daily session notes into the appropriate system.
Compose and submit all Children’s Learning Center Quarterly and Annual Reports according to the associated deadlines.
Participate and contribute in weekly team meetings and all full staff meetings.
Maintain a professional demeanor at all times and contribute to the upkeep of their personal space and shared work space.
Explain, demonstrate, provide instruction, and reinforce occupational therapy goals to both the student’s parents and in-classroom staff.
Work collaboratively with his/her fellow therapists, teachers, and the school principal to incorporate monthly curriculum themes into therapy sessions.
Focus on student’s fine motor skills, including hand strength and dexterity, such as handwriting skills, use of the keyboard and /or braille.
Facilitate use of adaptive equipment, such as adaptive feeding equipment, splints, and alternative seating equipment.
Facilitate use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
Perform fine motor therapeutic interventions that are both active and passive.
Increase the student’s ability to perform daily living tasks, such as the use of utensils, toys, and tools, and adaptive daily living skills.
Participate in Orthotic and Equipment Clinics as required.
Respect the rights of each student’s family to participate in decisions regarding their assessment and instructional program.
Facilitate each student’s independence and problem solving in their fine motor, sensory processing, self-care, and executive functioning skills.
Communicate regularly with families of our students through the digital communication platform or other means of communication.
Respond to parent inquires in a timely manner.