0.6 FTE Long-Term Substitute Occupational Therapist (January - May 2026)

Reading Public Schools•Reading, MA

43d•Onsite

About The Position

SUMMARY: Evaluates students to determine their functional levels and identify special needs. Plan and implement therapeutic activities to assist special education students to benefit from their educational experiences. Works with classroom teachers to provide OT strategies for all students. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The essential functions or duties listed below are illustrations of the type of work that is performed and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for by this position. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge of human development throughout the life span and integrates with student's unique developmental status.
Knowledge and appreciation of the influence of disabilities, socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors on student's ability to participate in occupations.
Knowledge and use of occupational therapy theories, models of practice, principles, and evidence-based practice to guide intervention decisions.
Knowledge of the federal, state, local legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that mandate and guide occupational therapy practice in schools.
Ability to gather and assess outcomes program evaluation data and to use to modify services at the programmatic level.
Ability to maintain current reporting, documentation, scheduling, and billing in accordance with professional standards, state and local guidelines, and reimbursement requirements.
Ability to determine the need for an occupational therapy evaluation and to select and administer appropriate assessment tools to evaluate the student.
Ability to interpret the evaluation data and write a comprehensive report that reflects strengths and barriers to student's participation and occupational performance.
Ability to participate collaboratively with multi-disciplinary educational teams to develop Individualized Education Programs to meet student needs.
Ability to develop occupationally-based intervention plans based on evaluation information.
Ability to provide evidence-based occupational therapy intervention to improve student's performance skills and participation.
Ability to adapt and modify environments, equipment, and materials including assistive technology.
Ability to plan, coordinate, and conduct continuing education for educational personnel, parents, and students.
Ability to use professional literature, evidence-based research, and continuing education content to make practice decisions.
Ability to provide legal and ethical supervision of occupational therapy assistants.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Knowledge of special education procedures to maintain appropriate confidential records.
Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form.
Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.
Minimum of a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university.
Valid MA DOE licensure; valid MA licensure to practice occupational therapy.

Responsibilities

Schedules students for evaluation and treatment.
Administers, scores and interprets occupational therapy assessments of children referred through the special education process.
Evaluates students' occupational therapy needs and develops goals and objectives to be considered as part of the IEP/504 process.
Implements therapy to meet IEP/504 goals; program planning and management.
Delivers occupational therapy services to children who have been identified through the TEAM or TST process with difficulties with some aspect of sensory, motor, visual-motor and/or perceptual functioning within the educational environment.
Develops and delivers services including self-help, functional mobility, environmental adaptations/adaptive equipment, positioning, motor functions, sensory processing, prevocational skills, and sensory diets to students in need.
Consults with classroom teacher and parents as deemed necessary.
Attends IEP meetings and other meetings as deemed necessary.
Provides written evaluations and progress reports on all students on caseload as needed.
Attends integrated therapy planning sessions as required.
Assists in the formulation of OT policies and procedures.
Maintains equipment room.