School Based Occupational Therapist

The Arizona Centers for Comprehensive Education and Life Skills) is a private, nonprofit organization for children with special needs, ages 5-22, and adults 18 and over. ACCEL provides innovative, individualized and comprehensive educational, therapeutic, vocational, behavioral, life skills, and transitional services to individuals with a wide range of disabilities including autism, intellectual, physical disabilities and health impairments. You will have the opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary setting. The team includes Special Education Teachers, OTs, PTs, Music Therapist, Aquatic Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and more. This is a great opportunity to expand Assistive Technology and AAC knowledge.

BENEFITS OF ACCEL EMPLOYMENT :

• Competitive Pay.
• Paid School Holidays including: Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break. Additionally, we observe federal holidays which often involve three-day weekends!
• Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision, life, and supplemental).
• Paid Time Off and Sick Leave.
• 401K
• 10-Month Position. (August - May)

JOB SUMMARY :

Identify, evaluate, and treat functional sensorimotor, perceptual, and fine motor deficits in students with physical, cognitive, and emotional/behavioral challenges through collaboration with teachers, paraprofessionals, parents and other related service providers. ACCEL’s student population consists of students with a variety of developmental disabilities in K-12+ educational setting.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide consultative and direct occupational therapy services. Duties include consulting and providing ideas to teachers and parents: providing therapy and instruction to students in the classroom setting.

2. Evaluate and write evaluation reports for students in need of therapy services using a variety of diagnostic tests, informal rating scales, observational opportunities, and other means, as appropriate.

3. Participates in MET and IEP meetings when appropriate, to discuss a student’s Occupational Therapy evaluation, present level of performance and to make recommendations regarding IEP goals and objectives.

4. Develops and writes Individual Education Plans for each student requiring therapy services providing student’s present level of performance and formulating annual goals and benchmark objectives.

5. Evaluates student’s progress through ongoing and periodic assessments, documenting progress with the same frequency as for all ACCEL students.

6. Prepares treatment plans and develops creative therapeutic activities which reflect best practices and meets the functional sensorimotor, perceptual, and fine motor needs of students.

7. Maintain up to date and accurate student list, dates of IEP reviews, scheduled meetings, and current copies of student goals and objectives.

8. Consults with teachers, therapists, directors, and other school professionals to provide collaborative programming and problem solve student issues. Therapist will work, as appropriate, within the classroom utilizing a team approach with education staff in delivering functional sensorimotor, perceptual, and fine motor activities. This will include providing writing activities when appropriate, developing sample materials and strategies for teachers when not in the classroom.

9. Responsible for determining alternate seating and adaptive feeding equipment needs of students.

10. Supervises and monitors job performance and caseload of Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) when applicable.

11. Develop and maintain a professional relationship with ACCEL staff, parents/caregivers, and members of the community at large.

12. Submit all reports within designated time frames.

13. Maintain an accurate record keeping system.

14. Maintain attendance and hourly contact records for Medicaid.

15. Submit Medicaid billing as directed.

16. Maintains therapy department equipment and materials.

17. Participates in school meetings, in-services, and committees designed to improve/enhance the overall school program. Contribute to the professional growth of colleagues by providing relevant in-services.

18. Maintains regular attendance.

19. Performs related duties, special assignments and projects as required by the Therapy Supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

- Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy preferred.

- Valid Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners License.

- AHCCCS number for submission of Medicaid billing.

- Current NPI number is needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment is representative of what an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Students may exhibit inappropriate physical behavior which may include hitting, biting, kicking, etc.

Visit us at www.accel.org