TEMPLETON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:  OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST  

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:

Under the direction of the Special Education Director or Superintendent, the Educational Occupational Therapist will provide direct or collaborative services for students with disabilities who are eligible for occupational therapy; assesses disabilities of referred students; makes recommendations regarding appropriate levels and types of service, goals and specific objectives for students; provides demonstrations of activities for the use of teachers in the classroom; provides assistive technology support; provides support to all special education programs throughout the district; maintains documentation and data logs of programs; and performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited school of occupational therapy with a minimum of a bachelor's degree
• Valid license from the State of California and registration with the American Occupational Therapy Association
• One year of successful experience in a school setting serving students with disabilities
• Valid California drivers license

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint Clearance
• Tuberculin Clearance

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of modern treatment procedures designed to maintain or improve a student's motor functions and to achieve greater independence in performing life skills
• Ability to assess individual needs, establish realistic and appropriate goals and objectives, and design and implement a program for each student
• Ability to provide demonstrations of exercises and activities for teachers and parents
• Ability to operate a computer, computer programs and train staff on assisted technology support
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing sufficient to express ideas, thoughts and instructions clearly to special educators, community members, parents and administrators
• Ability to collaborate effectively with staff, parents, members of other agencies and the public
• Ability to plan and conduct a system of continuous evaluation of each student's progress
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing
• Ability to drive a car

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assess referred children's skills and abilities in developmental functions, orthopedic status, quality of movement and postural control, gross, fine and oral motor functioning and independence in activities of daily living
• Serve students with the following disabilities:  SLP, SLD, Autism, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Intellectually Disabled, Other Health Impaired, etc.
• Utilize treatment procedures individually designed to maintain or improve a student’s skills
• Assist in the development of students' IEPs
• Make recommendations regarding appropriate levels and types of service, goals and specific objectives for students
• Coordinate services with the California Children's Services and other agencies
• Provide consultative assistance to the classroom teacher and other staff
• Provide demonstrations of exercises and activities for classroom teachers and parents
• Maintain documentation and data logs of programs
• Handle confidential material with complete security

• Participate in professional development and training related to assignment
• Serve as a mandated reporter for suspected child abuse
• Perform other job related duties as may be assigned

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Sit at a desk, conference table, on low chairs, on the floor, or in meeting rooms of various configurations for extended periods of time
• See and read, with or without vision aids, a computer screen and printed matter, and to distinguish colors
• Hear and understand speech at normal room levels, on the telephone, and outdoors
• Speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal conversations, in training sessions, presentations, on the playground, in meetings, and on the telephone
• Manual dexterity to operate a telephone, and to perform tasks related to this position using both hands
• Walk on uneven terrain, play yards and school grounds
• Physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds to shoulder height and 50 pounds to waist height; and to bend, to stoop, to sit on the floor, to climb stairs, to walk, and to reach overhead
• Physical capacity to lift (with assistance), move and position disabled persons up to age 22 who may weigh 150 pounds or more
• Facility to drive a car

Candidates offered positions who cannot meet the above physical requirements will be offered reasonable accommodations as appropriate in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Salary Placement:  Certificated Management Salary Schedule

Reports to:  Director of Special Education/Superintendent

Approved by the Board of Trustees: 2/10/11