| Location | Palatine, IL |
JOB
DESCRIPTION
Occupational
Therapist
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Title:
Occupational
Therapist
Union
Status:
TIE
Department:
Student
Services
Work
Year:
183
Day
Location:
District
Schools
Reports
To:
Nursing
Services
Assistant
Director
ISBE
Classification/Code:
360
Evaluation :
Annually
by
Building
Administration
FLSA
Status:
Exempt
Evaluation
Responsibilities:
None
Salary:
Contract
Benefits:
Current
Contract
GENERAL
RESPONSIBILITIES:
As
a
member
of
a
multidisciplinary
school
team,
the
Occupational
Therapist
assists
in
identifying
students
who
require
additional
support
to
successfully
participate
in
their
educational
environment.
The
Occupational
Therapist:
uses
their
expertise
to
support
academic
and
non-academic
outcomes,
facilitate
fine
motor,
visual
motor
development,
and
sensory
motor
performance;
promotes
independence
in
activities
of
daily
living
and
pre-vocational
skills;
and
improves
functional
skills
through
training,
adaptations
and
use
of
specialized
equipment.
This
position
requires
direct
interaction
with
the
students,
as
well
as
the
development
and
implementation
of
educational
plans
with
teachers,
administrators,
and
parents.
ESSENTIAL
FUNCTIONS:
Generate
reports
and
communicate
with
staff,
parents,
and
students.
Perform
appropriate
motor
and
sensory
assessments
of
students.
Maintain
student
records,
including
assessments,
data
collection,
therapy,
progress
notes,
attendance,
etc.
Prepare,
participate
and
share
expertise
in
team
meetings,
department
meetings,
problem-solving
meetings,
and
student
meetings.
Develops
measurable
school
based
goals
based
on
student
needs
and
input
from
the
educational
team.
Develops
treatment
plans,
interventions
and
strategies
to
meet
established
goals,
monitors
progress
towards
these
and
ensures
compliance
with
regulatory
requirements.
Collaborate
with
the
educational
team
and
parents/guardians
on
the
development,
implementation,
and
evaluation
of
instructional
plans
to
serve
the
needs
of
students
in
an
efficient,
equitable
and
culturally
competent
manner.
Research
resources
and
methods
to
ensure
best
practice.
Select
and
provide
therapy,
modifications,
strategies
and
accommodations
that
facilitate
inclusion
and
support
students'
educational
programs.
Provides
instruction
and
models
for
staff
and
students
on
the
use
of
assistive
devices
adaptations
and
accommodations.
Support
families
with
information
and
recommendations
of
activities/programs
that
promote
development
and
generalization
of
fine
motor
and/or
sensory
integration
skills.
Interprets
medical
and
academic
reports
for
the
purpose
of
providing
information
and/or
ensuring
that
treatment/intervention
plans
are
appropriate.
Consult
with
outside
professional
agencies/service
providers
for
coordination
of
therapy,
when
appropriate.
Supervise
certified
occupational
therapy
assistants.
Protect
student
confidentiality
according
to
federal,
state
and
local
regulations.
Assume
responsibility
for
professional
growth.
Maintain
appropriate
certification/licensure/standards
of
practice.
Adhere
to
professional,
ethical,
and
legal
standards
for
the
practice
of
Occupational
Therapy
in
the
schools,
as
dictated
by
associated
organizations,
e.g.,
ISBE,
AOTA,
and
Illinois
OT
Practice
Act.
Other
duties
as
assigned.
1
JOB
DESCRIPTION
Occupational
Therapist
JOB
REQUIREMENTS:
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge
of
the
philosophy,
principles
and
practices
of
Occupational
Therapy
as
it
relates
to
school-based
practice.
Knowledge
of
specialized
equipment
related
to
adaptive
equipment,
technology
and
positioning,
and
skills
to
use
appropriately.
Knowledge
of
typical
and
atypical
motor
development.
Knowledge
of
current
federal
and
state
laws
related
to
the
education
of
students
with
disabilities.
Ability
to
present
ideas
effectively,
both
orally
and
in
written
form,
complete
evaluations
within
specified
timeframes,
and
make
data
driven
decisions
for
activities
and
interventions.
Ability
to
independently
problem-solve,
create
schedules
and
manage
time.
Ability
to
communicate
and
work
collaboratively
with
students,
parents
and
professional
staff.
Ability
to
travel
between
district
buildings
as
necessary.
Physical
ability
to
provide
therapy
to
students
ages
2
through
15.
EDUCATION,
CREDENTIALS
and/or
EXPERIENCE:
Current
licensure
from
the
Illinois
Department
of
Professional
Regulation
as
an
Occupational
Therapist
Current
certification
from
the
National
Board
for
Certification
in
Occupational
Therapy
(NBCOT),
preferred
Pediatric
and
special
education
experience,
preferred
Physical
Demands
and
Work
Environment:
While
performing
the
duties
of
the
job,
the
employee
is
frequently
required
to
sit;
to
use
hands
and
fingers
to
handle
or
feel;
and
to
talk
or
hear.
The
employee
is
regularly
required
to
reach
with
hands
and
arms.
The
employee
is
regularly
required
to
stand
and
walk.
The
employee
must
frequently
lift
and/or
move
up
to
20
pounds
and
occasionally
lift
and/or
move
up
to
30
pounds.
Specific
vision
abilities
required
by
this
job
include:
close
vision,
distance
vision
vision,
depth
perception,
and
ability
to
adjust
focus.
The
employee
regularly
produces
written
work
using
a
keyboard.
In
the
work
environment,
the
employee
is
regularly
exposed
to
video
display
and
regularly
works
in
classroom/office
environmental
conditions.
The
employee
occasionally
works
in
the
evenings
or
on
weekends.
The
employee
is
occasionally
exposed
to
outdoor
weather
conditions
and
occasionally
works
with
the
use
of
a
personal/district
vehicle.
The
employee
will
have
contact
with
the
public
which
requires
appropriate
demeanor
and
apparel.
The
noise
level
in
the
work
environment
is
usually
moderate.
The
physical
demands
and
work
environment
described
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.
Reviewed/Revised:
April,
2021
and
Benefits
added
January
2025
The
statements
in
this
job
description
are
intended
to
describe
the
general
nature
and
level
of
the
work
to
be
performed
by
(an)
individual(s)
assigned
to
this
position.
They
are
not
an
exhaustive
list
of
all
duties
and
responsibilities
related
to
the
position.
This
job
description
will
be
reviewed
periodically
as
duties
and
responsibilities
change
with
the
business
necessity
and
School
Board
Policy
and
procedures.
Essential
and
marginal
job
functions
are
subject
to
modification.
2