Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (Cota)

Position Type:

Student Support Services-Special Education/Occupational Therapist

Date Posted:

5/24/2023

Location:

ConVal School District

Date Available:

August 2023

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Full-Time School Year, 188 days, Mon-Fri 7.25 hrs / day

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NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT #1

CONTOOCOOK VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

POSITION TITLE: Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

SUPERVISOR: Director of Special Education

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy assistant program

• Licensed or eligible for licensure in the State of New Hampshire

• One or more years of experience as a COTA preferred

SUMMARY:

The job of Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) was established for the purposes of providing educationally related occupational therapy services to students with Individualized Education Plan and under the direction of the Occupational Therapist.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Adapts school and classroom environment, tools and materials under the direction of the Occupational Therapist for the purpose of improving student functioning and facilitating student access to curricular and instructional activities.

• Assists Occupational Therapist with assessing students' fine motor, and development skills (e.g. oral motor, sensory integration, motor planning, developmental function, activities of daily living, fine motor function postural tone, etc.) for the purpose of determining their deficits and developing recommendations.

• Attends meetings and workshops (e.g. IEPs, training, team meetings, conferences, meetings with outside agencies, etc.) for the purpose of conveying and/or receiving information, including best practices for school OT delivery.

• Consults with occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, teachers, educational assistants, families, etc. for the purpose of providing requested information, reviewing/revising students' occupational therapy goals/objectives, developing plans for services and/or making recommendations to implement goals.

• Implements therapeutic activities and instructs students, teachers, parents and other involved persons (e.g. positioning, adjusting special equipment, etc.) for the purpose of providing appropriate care to students and/or supporting the student's IEP plan for use in the classroom.

• Maintains files and/or records in cooperation with the Occupational Therapist (e.g. progress reports, activity logs, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities and/or ensuring an up-to-date trail for compliance with various state, federal, and administrative regulations.

• Maintains treatment equipment and supplies in clean and proper working condition for the purpose of implementing motor/therapy goals.

• Prepares written materials (e.g. activity logs, progress notes, reports, memos, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information.

• Presents information (e.g. student performance data, clinical feedback, etc.) for the purpose of communicating information, gaining feedback and ensuring adherence to established internal controls.

• Provides direct occupational therapy services to students according to IEP goals for the purpose of ensuring compliance with established practices and procedures.

• Provides services at multiple work sites for the purpose of providing therapy and assistance as required. Provides training, consultation, and instruction to teachers on the use of adaptive devices and equipment for the purpose of ensuring such devices are used safely and optimal benefits are achieved.

• To develop an appropriate plan of professional development

• Performs other position related tasks as assigned by the Director of Special Education.

ADA MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED:

• Occasionally, Stooping. Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.

• Occasionally, Kneeling. Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

• Occasionally, Crouching. Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

• Seldom, Crawling. Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

• Occasionally, Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

• Frequently, Standing. Particularly for sustained periods of time.

• Occasionally, Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

• Occasionally, Pushing. Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

• Occasionally, Pulling. Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

• Seldom, Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

• Occasionally, Fingering. Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

• Occasionally, Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Constantly, Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

• Constantly, Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.

• Occasionally, Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

The physical requirements of this position

• Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

• The visual acuity requirements include color, depth perception, and field of vision.

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.

• The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position.

• The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).