Physical Therapist (24-25SY)

To provide physical therapy services to identified eligible special education students for the prevention of increased disability wherever possible, through the development of compensatory gross motor skills and the identification, adaptation and adjustment of equipment when needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct assessment of students referred through the evaluation process.
• Participate in the program planning for individual students.
• Provide intervention for student’s identified as needing service by the IEP team.
• Demonstrate management skills.
• Demonstrate professional competencies.
• Evaluate new students enrolling in the program within a reasonable time. If therapy is not indicated as a direct service, the therapist shall provide written input to the appropriate persons.
• Use standardized tests, and customized measures and/or observation to evaluate the student in areas of cognitive-perceptual-motor skills, motor coordination, psychosocial, development, self-care, muscle strength and range of motion, postural reflexes, needs for adaptive devices and prostheses, and vocational skills.
• The therapist, with parental permission, may make home visits for the purpose of evaluating and possibly servicing the child within his/her home environment.
• Evaluate treatment effectiveness by observation, testing, communication with family and other sources.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of handicapping conditions, and their effects on sensory, motor, psychosocial, and cognitive development of students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of local, federal, and state regulations and procedures pertaining to the provision of physical therapy services in the school setting.
• Knowledge of major theories, treatment procedures, and research relevant to providing physical therapy services for children with disabilities.
• Ability to select, administer, and interpret appropriate assessment instruments, and procedures taking into consideration the student’s age, developmental level, disability, and educational needs.
• Ability to assess the functional performance of students with disabilities within the school environment.
• Ability to engage in consensus decision making as a member of the IEP team.
• Ability to plan, and implement intervention strategies using direct therapy.