OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST 

EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT SERVICES 

District Wide 

BENEFITS: Health, Dental and Vision insurance, 21.40% employer contribution to your PERA retirement plan, paid holidays, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, free Colorado Mountain College (CMS) credits, amongst others. For full time employees

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $59,740 - $76,248 per year

POSITION SALARY RANGE: $59,740 - $134,070 per year

SUMMARY OF JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Occupational Therapist (OT) provides occupational therapy services to students age 3-21 to help them benefit from special education. Job related activities include screenings, evaluations, IEP planning, and implementation meetings, and direct and indirect therapeutic services. The OT believes that the two main occupations of children are play and school roles, and they provide treatment to assist students in successfully completing these occupations to the best of their ability.

SUPERVISED BY: Special Education Coordinator(s)

ESSENTIAL JOB ELEMENTS: Specific Skills Recommended:

• General computer skills
• Familiarity with standardized and non-standardized assessments
• Understanding of IEP process
• Consistent mode of transportation for travel between buildings
• Experience working with children with disabilities
• Exposure to adaptive equipment and assistive technology, transfer training
• Knowledge of school based model
• Consultative skills

Major Areas of Responsibility and Duties Specific to this Job:

• Documentation
• Assists in the development and completion of Individualized Education Plans and progress reports in computerized IEP software program in a timely fashion
• Maintains documentation of services provided and student progress towards goals
• Keeps track of mileage, budget items, and other expenses and submits for reimbursement

Team Member

• Becomes an active and effective member of various professional teams within the school setting
• Attends and contributes to meetings, occupational therapy team meetings, required district or school-wide meetings, IEP meetings and Response to Intervention (RtI) meetings as therapist deems appropriate
• Seeks input from other disciplines in order to better serve students
• Establishes rapport with team members, including parents

Technology

• Uses computer for e-mail and word processing
• Educates self, staff and students in the use of assistive technology including specialized software and hardware
• Researches and utilizes low and high tech solutions for students
• Modifies the environment as appropriate for student success

Assessment

• Completes screenings and informal observations as necessary
• Participates in trans disciplinary evaluations
• Uses professional judgment to determine appropriate evaluation procedures
• Completes student evaluations through formal or informal measures in a timely fashion
• Appropriately delivers assessment results to team members using jargon free terminology
• Refers for other discipline involvement when appropriate
• Participates in Eagle County School Performance Appraisal process

Service Delivery

• Provides direct and indirect therapy services to students according to service plan outlined in the IEP
• Consults about appropriate adaptive equipment and trains student and staff for proper use
• Facilitates student access to the curriculum, which may include environmental modifications
• Collaborates with teachers and other team members to improve a student’s participation and performance in school
• Educates teachers, family members, and others about the impacts of disability on educational performance and the potential benefits of adaptations or accommodations

Communication

• Uses appropriate written communication that is constructed with the purpose, audience, and intent in mind and with proper writing conventions and mechanics
• Uses strong verbal communication
• Applies the appropriate mode of communication (e-mail, written, telephone, face to face) for specific situations
• Maintains composure during difficult conflict situations
• Uses strong listening skills
• Displays effective interpersonal skills (has rapport with all, knows roles of co-workers, promotes information exchange, such as through parent/teacher conferences, newsletters)

Relationships

• Demonstrates a willingness to be flexible in team discussions, activities, and decisions
• When appropriate, seeks first to understand
• Actively contributes to the goals of all teams
• Establishes rapport with students, families, and staff
• Actively contributes to the success of all teams and team members
• Is able to effectively give and receive constructive feedback

Job Competency

• Meets all registration/licensing requirements for the position
• Consistently meets all expectations listed in the job description
• Delivers services as determined by the IEP or instructional schedule 100% of time

Personal Growth Progress

• Formulates goals with specific, measurable outcomes versus completing activities
• Demonstrates objective and measurable achievement of individual goals
• Develops new goals when current goals have been achieved

CONTACTS: Students, parents, support staff, administrative staff, and community members

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree from accredited occupational therapy program
• State of Colorado Occupational Therapy Registration and Colorado Department of Education Related Special Provider License
• Current Certification from the National Board for the Certification of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT)

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Analyzing
• Communicating
• Comparing
• Compiling
• Computing
• Coordinating
• Far acuity
• Handling Hearing
• Instructing
• Interpersonal skills
• Light lifting to 20 lb.
• Near acuity
• Negotiating
• Reaching
• Synthesizing
• Talking