OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST Definition Under the supervision of the District Student Services Administrator and the district Program Specialists, the occupational therapist assists in preparing students (who have been determined to require occupational therapy as an educationally necessary service) to respond appropriately to their education program. The occupational therapist works with team members in the school to enable the students to work toward his/her potential by improving, developing and restoring sensorimotor function, including sensory integration, feeding and other self-help skills and fine motor skills. Examples of Duties 1. Provides therapy and/or consulting services to identified handicapped students, families of students and regular and special education staff that provide services to identified students. 2. Problem solves to meet the student’s ever-changing needs; 3. Serves as liaison with school personnel, family, physician and agencies through written and or oral communication; 4. Assists in equipment ordering, adaptation, fabrication and repair; 5. Attends and participates in IEP’s, IFSP’s and other student-related meetings; 6. Evaluates, assesses and screens students; 7. Assists in planning to meet individual student and program needs; 8. Establishes and maintains appropriate records, reports and procedures; 9. Sets up, maintains and cleans treatment and physical therapy equipment; 10. Travels as needed to meet student or program needs; 11. Maintains confidentiality; 12. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Education And Experience 1. Graduate from an approved school of occupational therapy; 2. Some work experience preferred. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 1. California Driver's License; 2. License from the National Board and California State Board to practice occupational therapy. Language Skills 1. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing; 2. Ability to write reports, procedure manuals, and correspondence; 3. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret journals, technical procedures, and regulation manuals; 4. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of educators, parents, and the general public. Other Skills & Abilities 1. Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory of instruction to student programs; 2. Ability to plan and implement lessons based on educational objectives and abilities of students being served; 3. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community. Physical Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to climb and balance; stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle and feel objects, tools, or controls. Persons performing service in this position must be able to frequently exert 10 to 20 pounds of force to life, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Requires the ability to lift with assistance, move and position a disabled person up to age 22 weighing approximately 150 pounds, and to lift 50 pounds without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and depth perception. Work Environment While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is frequently more closely exposed to infection than the average person. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students. Must be able to meet multiple demands from several people.