Position Type:
Professional/Technical/ Physical Therapist

Date Posted:
5/9/2018

Location:
Itinerant Teacher Location

Job Code: Physical Therapist - 030104 Standard Hours: 40 Department: Sp Ed/Psy Instructional Srvcs - 221200 Empl Class: NA Minimum Salary: $44,110.00/Annually

Maximum Salary: $69,180.00/Annually

Scheduled Days: 190

Target Openings: 1

   License and Certification Qualifications: Licensed by the state board of physical therapy and a valid Georgia driver's license required.

Education Qualifications: Graduate of an accredited college or university with a minimum of a bachelor?s degree in physical therapy required.

Experience Qualifications: One year of pediatric and/or school-based therapy experience preferred.

Skills Qualifications: Ability to collaborate effectively; team oriented; strong organizational and documentation skills; knowledge of current physical therapy practices including evaluation procedures; effective communication skills both written and verbal; strong computer skills including the Microsoft Office Suite; ability to devise, implement, and direct treatment plans; knowledge of wheelchair seating and positioning; knowledge of pediatric diagnoses such as autism and orthopedic impairments; ability to evaluate and make recommendations for adaptive equipment; ability to project and generate a positive attitude; ability to work successfully with colleagues; and ability to impact change.

Primary Responsibilities: Responsible for implementing special education programs by executing designated Individualized Educational Program (IEP) objectives and consulting with and supporting parents, educational staff, and administrators to ensure students successfully participate in all educational programs.

1. Perform assessments of students with disabilities educational need for the related service of physical therapy, including eligibility for the orthopedically impaired, traumatic brain injuries or other health impaired special education programs, Student Support Team (SST), 504 purposes, and early childhood arena purposes.
a. Conduct varied assessments including standardized testing, histories, checklists, records audits, interviews with parents, educational staff, and medical professionals as appropriate.
b. Utilize classroom observations for students ages three through 21.
c. Present evaluation results to the IEP committee for determination of service needs.
d. Responsible for assessments based on referrals from SST for students with disabilities experiencing difficulties in general education, including referrals initiated by special educators and parents of students receiving special education services, referrals submitted by the early childhood arena teams, and referrals requesting assistance with testing to determine special education program eligibility for the orthopedically impaired, traumatic brain injuries, or other health impaired special education programs.

2. Develop treatment plans that offer strategies and interventions to promote student participation in educational programs.
a. Develop, direct, and provide consultative and/or home programs to support IEP objectives for individual students with disabilities as appropriate.
b. Assist in developing the IEP as a member of the IEP committee.
c. Develop strategies for the appropriate use of adaptive equipment, materials, and mobility aids in the school environment.
d. Construct materials and equipment to meet the individual needs of students.
e. Develop treatment plans to support students receiving special education and educational staff as a related service provider in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

3. Participate in professional learning opportunities to promote consistency in the interactions of those involved in student educational programs.
a. Provide in-service training for special education providers of all special education programs as well as regular education staff, support staff, parents, and parent groups concerning topics such as child development, specific disabilities and diagnoses, handling and positioning techniques, transferring techniques, body mechanics, and basic wheelchair maintenance.
b. Instruct students, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents on maintenance of independent therapy plans.
c. Provide in-services to colleagues on current school-based therapy related topics.
d. Participate in continuing education seminars offered by medical professionals to remain current concerning diagnoses, treatments, and medications as applicable to planning appropriate services for students and to maintain the required Georgia physical therapy license.

4. Identify the needs of students with disabilities and foster consistency in those who work with students through utilizing strong communication skills.
a. Complete formal reports on evaluation, eligibility, and review of student therapy services.
b. Maintain informal communication with parents, educational staff, and the medical professionals recommending therapy services.
c. Maintain current rosters of students on assigned caseloads.
d. Maintain documentation of school therapy services for each student receiving physical therapy services.
e. Obtain current physician referrals as needed for treatment.
f. Attend Preparatory Activity and IEP meetings for students receiving physical therapy services.
g. Attend SST meetings when requested by school SST coordinators.
h. Attend 504 planning and review meetings.
i. Maintain compliance with IDEIA, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and best practices for school-based physical therapists presented by the American Physical Therapy Association.

5. Provide educationally relevant physical therapy treatment to students in special education as determined by the IEP committee.
a. Provide ongoing educationally relevant treatment to special education students on specific IEP objectives supported by physical therapy.
b. Provide periodic consultation to special education teachers to support IEP objectives.
c. Provide short-term physical therapy interventions to accommodate changes in special education student performance or the learning environment.
d. Provide interventions designated in 504 plans.
e. Assist students with participating and benefiting from educational program in accordance with IDEIA and ADA-504.

6. Assist with litigation issues as needed by the Director and/or the Executive Director of Special Education.
a. Present documentation of school-based therapy services upon request for mediations and hearings.
b. Attend meetings concerning due process issues as requested by the Director and/or the Executive Director of Special Education.
c. Adhere to all due process procedures.

7. Promote safety throughout the educational environment.
a. Identify barriers of student access to the educational environment as well as the educational programs.
b. Assist with the development and implementation of building evacuation plans.
c. Assist upon request from the Transportation Department with the development and implementation of plans to safely transport students with wheelchair issues.

8. Act as clinical supervising instructors for physical therapy students from several universities with preference granted to physical therapy programs at universities within the state of Georgia.
9. Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. The employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, and/or reach. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.