Occupational Therapist Assistant (Cota)

Starke County Special Education Shared Services

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

LENGTH OF WORK: 7.5 hours a day Monday through Friday

185 Days

SUMMARY: The Occupational Therapy Assistant assists in the process of screening and evaluation, and the development and implementation of intervention services under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist. The occupational therapy assistant works with students identified with or suspected of having disabilities that interfere with their ability to perform daily living activities and participate in necessary and desired occupations.

SALARY: Commensurate with experience

SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:

• Letter of Interest
• Resume
• License
• Professional References with Telephone Numbers
• Professional Letters of Recommendation

EFFECTIVE DATE: 2024-2025 School Year

CONTACT: Heather Reese

Knox Elementary School

210 W. Culver Road

Knox, IN 46534

hreese@knox.k12.in.us

(574) 772-1667

Fax: (574) 772-1646

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides occupational therapy services to students in the Cooperative according to the needs outlined in each student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).
• Confers with the Occupational Therapist and develops IEP goals and objectives as determined by the OT assessment on assigned students.
• Communicates with parents and other team members in an efficient and professional manner.
• Participates in IEP conferences on an as-needed basis by attending and presenting OT IEP goals and objectives on assigned students.
• Works with therapists, teachers, parents and aides by providing follow-through and reinforcement of other educational goals and objectives as they relate to functional perceptual motor, sensorimotor and/or self-care skills.
• Participates in the development of home programs as needed.
• Consults, instructs and assists classroom teachers and aides regarding positioning and handling, intervention programs and their utilization.
• Maintains written records that document therapy sessions and provides updated information on student progress.
• Organizes occupational therapy schedules for assigned students.
• Demonstrates a knowledge of proper use and handling of equipment and follows safety procedures in the use of this equipment.
• Instructs others in the proper and safe use of adaptive equipment.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associates of Applied Science degree.
• Holds a certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.
• Active license with the Indiana Professional Licensing.
• Two years of experience (Preferably in pediatric practice).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of basic features of main occupational therapy theories, models of practice, principles, and evidence-based practice.
• General knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan.
• Ability to articulate the role of the occupational therapy assistant and the Occupational Therapist in the evaluation, intervention planning, intervention process.
• Ability to articulate the difference between occupation and activity.
• Ability to analyze tasks relative to the areas of occupation, performance skills, activity demands, context(s), and student factors to implement the intervention plan.
• Ability to recognize occupational performance deficits in the areas of personal care, student role/interactive skills, process skills, play, community integration/work, and graphic communication.
• Ability to articulate the influence of socio-cultural, socioeconomic, and diversity factors on student occupational performance.
• General knowledge of the federal, state, local legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that mandate and affect school-based occupational therapy services.
• Skill in gathering screening and evaluation data, completing checklists, histories, and interviews.
• Ability to select, adapt, and sequence relevant occupations and purposeful activities that support intervention goals.
• Ability to provide occupationally based interventions to achieve student participation in school environments.
• Skill in effective oral and written communication.
• Ability to maintain safe environments, equipment, and materials.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and progress notes.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here 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 function.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.