Job Description:

Location: Leidal Education Center
Department: Special Education
Reports To: Occupational Therapists, School Principal, and Special Education Directors
Term: Ongoing 182-day position following the school calendar
Schedule: Mon-Fri Full-time

SUMMARY: The COTA works under the direction of the Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR) to provide occupational therapy services within the educational setting to learners with cognitive, physical, emotional, and/or developmental delays.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)
Collaboration:
Assists learners with adaptive equipment and assistive technology as appropriate. 
Develops positive, effective working relationships with learners and staff.
Communication:
Educates/trains staff and other team members in specific techniques related to OT in the areas of fine motor development, sensory, positioning, adaptive equipment for feeding, etc.
Provides accurate documentation of intervention, treatment, progress and need for follow-up services.
Communicates intervention options with the learner, parents/guardians, and teachers.  
Reports and evaluates effectiveness of interventions.
Acts as a communication liaison between learners and teachers.
Acts as a communication liaison between resource and content area classroom.
Connects and shares ideas through appropriate/applicable formats to express thoughts and ideas with integrity.
Compassion:
Demonstrates understanding of learner’s disability, is courteous, respectful and fair.
Understands the complexities of cultural and global issues and how they relate to employee and learners’ experiences.
Partners with others to resolve potential controversy and conflict through respectful discussion.
Proactively seeks to understand the ideas, opinions, and skills of others.
Creativity:
Demonstrates initiative and creativity with learners and their program.
Connects with team members and shares ideas in an effort to improve the overall learner and employee experience.
Critical Thinking:
Determines needs and priorities for intervention based on an appreciation and understanding of the individual learner.
Complete documentation with data sheets, progress reports, IEPs, Medicaid, etc.
Identifies and/or designs theoretically based interventions that address the learner’s needs by using data gathering techniques such as interview, observation, activity analysis and assessment.
Reasons, interprets, and analyzes information to generate new knowledge and understanding.
Reflection:
Maintains communication with supervisor and director regarding general feedback, career advancement opportunities, and areas of growth.
Resilience:
Maintains composure while dealing with stressful situations.
Proactively seeks out resolutions and takes initiative to resolve knowledge gaps.
Responsibility:
Performs evaluations as determined by the supervising OTR.
Attends meetings and reports OT results upon requesting from supervising OTR.
Provides occupational therapy services that address the needs of the learner by adapting activities to fit the learner’s educational level.
Implements interventions using current practices and emerging knowledge.
Selects intervention methods consistent with goals and the school environment.
Follows occupational therapy roles, code of ethics, standards of practice and governmental occupational therapy regulations.
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, talk, and hear.
The specific vision abilities required for this role include close and peripheral vision.
The employee may be required to lift up to ~30 pounds.
The employee must work with the public and various WFPS staff while simultaneously managing several competing demands.
The employee will work in an environment that has a quiet to loud noise level.
 
Education and/or Experience:
Associate’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited community college or technical school.
Previous demonstrated experience in areas of OT practice including but not limited to, fine motor, visual motor, and sensory interventions.
Previous experience working with school-aged learners is preferred.
Previous experience working with learners with varying levels of motor and sensory abilities is preferred.
Pediatric experience is preferred.
Previous experience working in a school setting is preferred.
 
Language Skills:
Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondences in the English language.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally, expressively, and reactively.
 
Other Skills and Abilities:
Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and good judgment.
Adhere to the assigned work schedule by maintaining regular and punctual attendance.
Ability to use technology and integrate it into OT-based services.
 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None.

Salary: Position follows the 2024-2025 Classified Salary Schedule at B235. Starting salary begins at $23.30-$25.55/hour, based on experience.

To Apply: Please complete the application and include three references.