SchoolBased Occupational Therapist

Since 1893, Helen Keller Services (HKS) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have combined hearing and vision loss. HKS serves the New York City/Long Island area from its new headquarters in dynamic downtown Brooklyn and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults of Sands Point, New York, which has a network of regional offices that extends HKS reach across the United States.We currently have an exciting full-time career opportunity available to join the HKS team as a Full-TimeOccupational Therapistin our BrooklynChildrens Learning Center. The Brooklyn Childrens Learning Center preschool provides educational and therapeutic services for children between the ages of 3-5 with visual disorders, multiple disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and pervasive developmental disabilities.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESProvide therapeutic services in accordance with students IEP goals related to participation in preschool, self-care, and play activitiesComplete required paperwork, including annual reports, Turning Five reports, quarterly progress reports, and daily session notesParticipate in IEP meetings, team meetings, and parent-teacher conferencesCollaborate with students families and team members, including classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, teachers of the visually impaired, and social workerUnderstand Relevant Medical InformationFamiliarity with common eye conditionsUnderstanding of sensory systemsUnderstanding of neuromuscular system concepts (e.g., muscle tone)Plan and Conduct Childrens Learning Center IEP AssessmentsUnderstand and execute a formal case review of the students history including educational, therapeutic, and medical information that is available.Assess the students present level of functioning in the following areas related to their Occupational Therapy needs:Fine Motor Ability, including hand strength and dexterity.Sensory Processing.Daily Living Skills.Play SkillsPreschool SkillsSocial SkillsExecutive Functioning SkillsAdaptive Equipment Needs.OrthoticsBased on the students IEP evaluations and accompanying medical assessments and the students parents input, determine appropriate short-term instructional objectives and annual goals.Occupational Therapist-Related ConceptsMust be able to explain, demonstrate, provide instruction, and reinforce occupational therapy goals to both the students parents and in-classroom staff. This will be done through working collaboratively with his/her fellow therapists, teachers, and the school principal to incorporate monthly curriculum themes into therapy sessions. The key elements of therapy sessions will include the following, when appropriate:Students fine motor skills, including hand strength and dexterity, such as handwriting skills, use of the keyboard and /or brailler.Use of adaptive equipment, such as adaptive feeding equipment, splints, and alternative seating equipmentUse of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devicesPerform fine motor therapeutic interventions that are both active and passive. This includes increasing the students ability to perform daily living tasks, such as the use of utensils, toys, and tools, an