MANHATTAN BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST DEFINITION Under the supervision of the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, to provide a program of educationally-related occupational therapy in the district; to make assessments of individual students’ needs for therapy; to consult with district personnel and parents regarding therapeutic activities; and to do related work as required. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Understands eligibility criteria and service delivery models for educationally-related occupational therapy; makes assessments where appropriate; prepares written reports regarding individual assessments, progress data and home programs; cooperates in the development of Individual Education Program (IEP) for students considered to be individuals with exceptional needs; provides direct therapy services to students including specific training in fine and gross motor skills, sensory motor integration, oral motor skills and related areas; performs parent training to enable parents to participate in home programs when appropriate; participates in staff development activities and assists and collaborates with regular classroom teachers, support staff and other district personnel in understanding the special needs of the students and the implementation of the IEP; recommends appropriate referrals for orthopedic, occupational and/or physical therapy evaluations as appropriate and performs related duties and responsibilities as required. QUALIFICATIONS Demonstrated experience in working with pre-school and school-age children in the provision of assessment and services as an Occupational Therapist; registration by American Occupational Therapy Association as an Occupational Therapist; training and certification in the administration and evaluation of Southern California Sensory Integration Tests; possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and available use of a motor vehicle. Previous employment as an Occupational Therapist where therapy services have been provided to children. KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES Knowledge of child development with particular emphasis on assessment and direct intervention to remediate developmental delays in fine and gross motor skills, sensory motor integration and related areas; ability to provide direct therapeutic services to pre-school and school age children; ability to communicate effectively with students, parents and district personnel regarding assessments, therapeutic activities and student progress; ability to participate with a team in the assessment and implementation of the Individual Education Program (IEP); ability to prepare appropriate oral and written reports; ability to perform record keeping tasks; ability to take direction and constructive criticism from supervisory personnel. PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT The Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Continued employment and the Associated Tasks listed in this section are representative of, but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Continued Employment and Associated Tasks which may be required of positions in this class. Manhattan Beach Unified School District encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment in this class and need reasonable accommodation of those disabilities to contact the Personnel Department for further information. PHYSICAL DEMANDS ASSOCIATED TASKS Vision: (which may be corrected) Read normal print Walk over uneven terrain and use peripheral vision To perform tasks such as to: Supervise students Hearing: (which may be corrected) Hear sounds which warn of potential danger Understand speech in classroom setting Hear whispered responses from student with limited oral motor functioning To perform tasks such as to: Supervise students and respond to emergencies Respond to pupils needs Speech Speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood in face-to-face public contact Speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood in a classroom Speak for prolonged periods To perform tasks such as to: Communicate with teachers, students and parents Instruct groups of students Instruct and supervise students Upper Body Mobility: Use hands and fingers to feel, grasp and manipulate small objects, manipulate fingers, twist and bend hands at wrist and elbow, extend arms to reach outward and upward, use hands and arms to lift objects Turn, raise and lower head, twist and bend at torso To perform tasks such as to: Instruct students to use chalk, pencil and pen, and to tie shoes and assist with clothing To deliver specialized heath care procedures Supervise students Lower Body Mobility: Walk on even surfaces Climb stairs Bend at waist and stoop Bend at knees, squat, sit on floor for prolonged periods of 50 minutes Step over objects To perform tasks such as to: Supervise and assist students Follow disaster plan Provide physical assistance to students, and follow disaster plan Supervise students Strength: To lift, position, carry, push or pull a pupil or object which weighs as much as 50 pounds on an occasional basis or over 50 pounds with the assistance of another individual To perform tasks such as to: Assist, restrain and position students Stamina: Run quickly for brief spurts Walk prolonged distances To perform tasks such as to: Prevent student injury Supervise students outdoors Environmental Requirements: Constant work interruptions Work around dirt/dust Work independently Work cooperatively with others Work inside and outside To perform tasks such as to: Instruct and supervise students Supervise students outdoors Coordinate activities with teachers and staff Mental Requirement: Read, write, understand, interpret and apply moderately complex information Math skills at high school graduate level Copying Analyzing Coordinating Judge and process information quickly and make quick decisions Learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards Place information in order of importance Listen Demonstrate Give verbal instruction Ability to prioritize Ability to think clearly in an emergency To perform tasks such as to: read and understand curriculum Document information Develop and evaluate strategies with teachers Implement strategies Work safely and effectively with students Instruct and supervise students Understand questions and concerns of special students Respond to difficult emergency situations Understand questions and concerns of special students Instruct and supervise students Other Conditions of Continued Employment: •Speak at a conversational level and demonstrate fluency and literacy in English •Participate in employer-mandated training and re-training programs •Comply with rules and regulations of the Classified Service and provisions of labor agreements •Use appropriate equipment associated with the professional performance of duties Some assignments require constant attention to protection of physical safety in a classroom when the pupils, because of the nature and severity of their disability, are accident prone or because of assaultive or self-abusive tendencies which could cause serious injury to themselves or others. Approved by Personnel Commission: 5/3/99 Adopted by Board of Trustees: 5/12/99