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Occupational Therapist (OTR/L)

Job Title: Occupational Therapist (OTR/L)

(Preference for full-time candidates; however, if interested in part-time employment, please consider applying as we may consider two part-time positions to fulfill one full-time equivalent.)

Reports to: Director of Therapeutic Services

The Occupational Therapist will design and implement occupational therapy services to meet the needs of individuals with Down syndrome across the lifespan, and specifically provide assessment and intervention for individuals with Down syndrome. As a member of the Pathways ™ therapy team, the OT will provide specialized interventions and/or modifications to people with Down syndrome to support the acquisition of skills. The OT will be expected to take lead on education, support, and interventions in the areas of daily living skills, community integration, vocational readiness, motor development, assistive technology, and home modifications. In addition to providing direct therapy, the OT will utilize coaching and consulting to support families and caregivers; provide community education and training; collect and report data on individual and group outcomes; and provide consultation to other staff and volunteers to increase inclusion and participation of individuals with Down syndrome in our educational and employment programming. The OT will also design and implement therapeutic small groups for children and young adults with Down syndrome, and design and oversee implementation of playgroups for young children, in collaboration with other therapists. The OT will also work with the other therapists to create and implement innovative teletherapy programming.

Program: Down Syndrome Innovations’ Pathways ™ program includes therapeutic services for people with Down syndrome of all ages, and their families. Our Pathways™ services are implemented by an interdisciplinary team of licensed therapists, including a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Pathways ™ services equip the individual, his/her parents, caregivers, and extended family members with skill-building strategies and individualized supports that are targeted to daily life in the home and community. For more information: pathways321.org

Organization: At Down Syndrome Innovations, our life-changing support and services enable people with Down syndrome to live to their fullest potential. We serve as the expert resource and lead community mobilizer, sharing knowledge and creating solutions for people with Down syndrome. We recognize that people with Down syndrome have an incredible capacity to learn essential life and vocational skills when provided access and opportunity, effective instructional strategies, visual supports, and individualized modifications. It is essential in these services to maximize independence at all times and provide a safe and supportive environment for learning. Skill instruction will revolve around our 6 Program Pillars: Daily Living; Social & Communication Skills; Community Engagement; Health, Wellness & Safety; Self-Advocacy; and Vocational Development. For more information, visit our website: kcdsi.org

Occupational Therapist responsibilities include:

  • Assess and evaluate the individuals’ motor, visual, sensory, cognitive, social, and technology skills for the purpose of identifying challenges interfering with daily life in the home and community.
  • Provide families guidance in facilitating the independence of their children or adults in the home and community.
  • In coordination with Director of Therapeutic Services, contribute to improvements and revisions in the design of the Pathways ™ program, ensuring seamless development, implementation, program delivery, quality control and evaluation.
  • Collaborate with other therapists on the design and implementation of playgroups for young children, and therapeutic small groups for children and young adults addressing self-regulation and social skills.
  • Collaborate with adult services team to support our organization’s employment initiatives for adults with Down syndrome, including social enterprise, internal employment, job fair, and vocational readiness programs.
  • Complete documentation (Pathways™ evaluation reports, Pathways™ Plans, Pathways™ mid-term progress reports, and/or Pathways™ session summaries) for all individuals receiving occupational therapy services in accordance with deadlines.
  • Utilize a wide repertoire of intervention methods and select based on the unique needs and strengths of each individual and family.
  • Consider both immediate needs of child and long-term needs, as related to preparation for adulthood.
  • Develop, vet, and contribute best-practice resources to online share site for families receiving services in Pathways™.
  • Demonstrate evidence-based practice through the use of research to support selected intervention strategies and collection of routine data as evidence of effectiveness of current interventions.
  • Refer families who require evaluation or intervention beyond the scope of our therapy program to specialists in the community, especially with medical needs or specialized intervention in, but not limited to, feeding, sleep, or mental health.
  • Contribute to the organization’s curriculum development, staff and volunteer training, and family resources.
  • Continue professional growth through educational meetings, online trainings, review of evidence-based literature, and exchange of ideas among staff and therapist network.

Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an educational institution accredited by ACOTE.
  • Current certification with NBCOT (National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy).
  • Hold (or be eligible to apply for) state licensure to provide speech-language services to the organization’s constituents. This includes but is not limited to licensure in Kansas and Missouri.
  • Minimum of two years of experience with individuals with ID/DD in a school or community setting.
  • Must possess exemplary written and communication skills.
  • Experience or interest in mentoring occupational therapy students and collaborating with OT education programs at local universities.
  • Confirmed experience making a positive contribution to work culture.
  • Available to work a Monday through Friday schedule (as late as 7 pm on some weekdays), and intermittent weekends for special outreach events and organizational fundraisers.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

  • Demonstrates advanced understanding of occupational therapy principles and instruction strategies as applied to people with developmental disabilities across the lifespan.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
  • Flexible to evolving and emerging needs of our membership.
  • Strategic communicator able to work in a fast-paced environment with a dynamic team.
  • Highly energetic, self-starter and creative individual who can express ideas articulately, create opportunities for personal and organizational growth, and communicate goals and objectives clearly.
  • Articulate presenter with history of public speaking to audiences.
  • Ability to use technology solutions to create visual supports (i.e. LessonPix) and video modeling (i.e. iMovie).
  • Proficient in Microsoft Suite products.
  • Proficient and/or willing to acquire teletherapy-related skills including but not limited to use of hardware, software, and/or other online materials.

Additional Information:

  • Send cover letter and resume to megan@kcdsi.org by July 19th to be considered for the position.
  • You can also click here to apply online.
  • To further discuss this position, please contact Megan DeBoom (megan@kcdsi.org).
  • Salaried position, negotiable based on credentials, specialized training, and experience.
  • Benefits include health, vision, dental, and long-term disability insurance, retirement, and PTO.
APPLY ONLINE
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