An Occupational Therapist helps patients with injuries, illnesses, and disabilities recover, improve, or develop skills needed for everyday activities. Assists people with mobility impairments to move easily around their homes; develops school and workplace settings that are accessible for individuals with physical or mental disabilities. May specialize in certain types of impairments or certain categories of patients.
Occupational Therapists at A Step Up Academy (ASUA) lead the assessment, planning, implementation, coordination, and delivery of occupational therapy services for students ages 4 through 21 with autism spectrum disorder and other complex developmental, behavioral, communication, sensory, and intellectual disabilities within an ASUA Separate Learning Center (SLC). Services may be delivered in person and through teletherapy when appropriate. ASUA is a highly specialized private academic school that utilizes a collaborative, interdisciplinary model integrating educational, behavioral, therapeutic, and social-emotional programming. Occupational Therapists are expected to actively participate as members of this interdisciplinary team, recognizing that student success is achieved through consistent implementation of evidence-based, trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and behaviorally supportive practices across all educational environments. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for conducting comprehensive evaluations, developing and implementing individualized treatment plans, participating in IEP development and implementation, providing direct intervention services, documenting student progress, communicating effectively with educational and clinical teams, and supporting families through consultation and education. A primary responsibility of this position is ensuring that every occupational therapy service outlined in each student's Enrollment Contract and Individualized Education Program (IEP) is delivered with complete fidelity to the prescribed frequency and duration. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for maintaining accurate service logs and documentation, proactively monitoring service delivery compliance, and independently planning and scheduling make-up sessions whenever services are missed due to school closures, therapist absences, schedule changes, assemblies, field trips, student programming conflicts, or any other interruption in service. Maintaining compliance with contracted and legally required services is an essential function of this position. Primary responsibility shall always include maintaining student safety while providing therapeutic intervention within highly specialized classrooms serving students with significant behavioral, communication, and sensory support needs. Therapists must be capable of responding appropriately to challenging behaviors, supporting crisis intervention when necessary, collaborating closely with behavioral staff, and helping students safely access educational programming. Strong partnership with families and effective collaboration with teachers, instructional assistants, behavior specialists, related service providers, and administrators are essential expectations.
Certifications and Qualifications:
Successful completion and graduation from an accredited Occupational Therapy program and completion of all required fieldwork. Current Pennsylvania License as a certified Occupational Therapist. Current (dated within one year) Act 34, Act 114, and Act 151 clearances. Current CPR and First Aid certification or willingness to obtain upon hire. Ability to successfully complete all ASUA-required safety, crisis prevention, and behavior management training.
Essential Duties and Competencies Required:
Demonstrate a thorough understanding of and commitment to ASUA's mission, philosophy, and interdisciplinary service delivery model emphasizing collaboration, positive behavior supports, trauma-informed care, dignity, respect, accountability, and maximizing student independence. Understand the unique educational and therapeutic needs of students with autism spectrum disorder and other complex developmental disabilities, including sensory processing differences, communication challenges, behavioral needs, executive functioning deficits, adaptive skill delays, and co-occurring diagnoses. Consistently implement evidence-based occupational therapy practices that support meaningful participation in educational, functional, social, communication, behavioral, and daily living activities within the school setting. Collaborate daily with teachers, instructional assistants, behavior specialists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, nursing staff, administrators, and families to ensure consistent implementation of student programming. Complete comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations including assessment of muscle tone, range of motion, strength, mobility, sensory processing, fine motor skills, visual motor integration, activities of daily living, executive functioning, adaptive behavior, orthopedic concerns, positioning, and assistive technology needs. Analyze occupational performance across classroom routines, self-care activities, sensory regulation, transitions, vocational activities (when applicable), cafeteria participation, playground activities, and other educational environments. Develop measurable therapy goals aligned with student educational programming and functional outcomes. Develop, implement, and monitor occupational therapy components of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Deliver direct occupational therapy services exactly as prescribed within each student's IEP and Enrollment Contract, maintaining complete fidelity to required frequency, duration, and service model. Independently monitor personal service delivery to ensure all required therapy minutes are provided within required timelines. Maintain accurate service trackers, daily service logs, progress reports, treatment notes, evaluation reports, discharge summaries, consultation records, and all other required documentation. Proactively schedule and provide make-up sessions whenever services are missed due to therapist absence, student schedule conflicts, school closures, assemblies, field trips, weather events, or any interruption in service delivery. Communicate proactively with supervisors regarding potential compliance concerns before service deficits occur. Select, adapt, and sequence therapeutic activities that maximize student independence and participation throughout the school day. Evaluate, recommend, implement, and monitor adaptive equipment, positioning equipment, sensory supports, environmental modifications, classroom accommodations, and assistive technology. Educate teachers, instructional assistants, related service providers, and families regarding therapeutic strategies that promote consistency and generalization of student skills. Maintain safe therapy environments while ensuring equipment is appropriately maintained, sanitized, inventoried, and utilized. Participate actively in IEP meetings, multidisciplinary team meetings, staff meetings, parent conferences, professional development activities, and consultation meetings. Maintain professional clinical competency through continuing education, research, professional collaboration, and evidence-based practice. Provide services throughout assigned instructional areas within the SLC, community, and support students across additional settings as directed.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities:
Read, understand, and comply with the ASUA Employee Handbook, Board policies, clinical procedures, and all updates. Attend all mandatory meetings, trainings, professional development sessions, and school events as required, including those occurring outside regular work hours as outlined in the Employee Handbook. Participate in ongoing professional development related to autism, behavior support, sensory integration, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, assistive technology, and educational best practices. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with
FERPA, HIPAA
(when applicable), and ASUA policies. Demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, initiative, accountability, and a collaborative mindset while contributing positively to ASUA's culture. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Occupational Therapist will be required to follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as assigned by the Education Director, Lead Clinical Specialist, Head of Schools, Clinical Leadership, or other appropriate administrator.
Physical Requirements:
This position requires significant physical stamina and the ability to safely participate in highly active educational environments serving students ages 4-21 with autism spectrum disorder and complex behavioral needs. Frequent standing, walking, sitting on floors, kneeling, squatting, bending, reaching, climbing stairs, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, pushing, pulling, transitioning quickly between classrooms, and moving therapy equipment and classroom materials are required. The Occupational Therapist must be physically capable of responding rapidly during behavioral crises, safely assisting students during dysregulation, participating in approved crisis intervention procedures, supporting safe transitions, maintaining close proximity to students, and working alongside behavioral staff in highly active classrooms. The ability to run short distances, maintain physical endurance throughout the workday, and work in physically demanding educational environments is essential. Adequate vision, hearing, balance, coordination, and manual dexterity are required to safely monitor student behavior, provide therapeutic interventions, operate equipment, and respond to emergencies.
Safety and Health:
Knowledge of universal hygiene precautions. Adherence to all ASUA safety procedures, infection control protocols, emergency procedures, crisis intervention practices, and mandated reporting responsibilities. Ability to maintain awareness of environmental safety while prioritizing student dignity and well-being during all therapeutic interactions.
Equipment/Material Handled:
The Occupational Therapist shall be assigned a variety of assessment tools, therapy materials, adaptive equipment, assistive technology devices, sensory equipment, consultation resources, and instructional materials that shall be maintained, inventoried, sanitized, stored appropriately, and used responsibly. The Occupational Therapist must demonstrate proficiency with technology used for documentation, scheduling, electronic records, service tracking, communication, virtual therapy (when applicable), and other software utilized by ASUA.
Work Environment:
The Occupational Therapist works within an ASUA Specialized Learning Center serving students with significant autism support needs and other complex developmental disabilities. Services are primarily provided within classrooms, therapy rooms, sensory spaces, adaptive physical education settings, cafeterias, playgrounds, vocational areas (when applicable), and other educational environments within the school. Daily work involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams while managing changing schedules, student behavioral needs, sensory-rich environments, and multiple competing priorities. Noise levels, activity levels, and environmental conditions vary significantly throughout the school day. The Occupational Therapist must maintain flexibility, organization, sound clinical judgment, and professionalism while adapting to rapidly changing student needs and schedules. Interruptions are frequent, independent decision-making is expected, and the ability to remain calm and effective under stressful conditions is essential. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for maintaining efficient scheduling, ensuring continuity of care, proactively communicating schedule changes, and ensuring contracted therapy services remain fully compliant despite scheduling disruptions. A Step Up Academy reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.
Job Type:
Full-time Pay:
From $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance
