Part-Time Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Physical Therapist Cajal Academy Inc - 5.0 Norwalk, CT Job Details Part-time $60 - $120 an hour 8 hours ago Qualifications Teamwork Trauma-sensitive practices Relationship building (classroom management strategies) Doctoral degree Physical Therapy Interpersonal skills Client rapport building Working with pediatric populations Master's degree Collaboration with other professionals for student support Physical Therapy License Clinical interprofessional collaboration Pediatrics Multidisciplinary team collaboration for treatment planning Child & youth therapy Pediatric physical therapy Full Job Description The Opportunity Cajal Academy is seeking a licensed Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Physical Therapist to join our multidisciplinary clinical team on a part-time basis. This is a unique opportunity for a pediatric PT interested in the relationship between neurological development, motor control, sensory motor integration, learning, regulation, and functional participation. Cajal Academy is a small, private nonprofit school dedicated to developing and implementing research-backed, neuroscience-informed educational approaches. Co-founded by an experienced occupational therapist, Cajal Academy "connects the dots" between data from children's standardized assessments and their learning, motor development, and social-emotional growth. We identify specific neurocognitive, neurophysiological, and motor skill deficiencies and develop interventions designed to strengthen foundational skills from the ground up. The therapies are at the center of this work, not on the periphery. The Student Body Cajal Academy students have very high analytical reasoning and/or creative problem-solving abilities while also presenting with a range of motor planning, learning, social-emotional, neurophysiological, sensory-motor, and chronic medical needs.

Students may present with:

 Dyspraxia  Developmental coordination difficulties  Motor planning and praxis deficits  Retained primitive reflexes  Impaired postural control  Balance and coordination deficits  Gross motor delays  Sensory-motor differences  Vestibular and proprioceptive processing differences  Body-awareness and interoceptive challenges  Joint hypermobility  Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other connective tissue disorders  Complex neurodevelopmental presentations Cajal Academy is not a behavior-management or ABA school and does not implement ABA approaches. We do not accept students who are physically aggressive toward staff or peers. The Clinical Model PT and OT interventions are integrated into the educational experience. Therapists may work individually with students, in small groups, alongside other clinicians, or directly within classroom and academic activities. The PT contributes to understanding how a student's motor and neurophysiological profile relates to learning, regulation, social participation, and independence. Students are also taught to understand their own bodies and develop strategies for recognizing, communicating, and managing their individual physical and regulatory needs.

Responsibilities Responsibilities may include:

 Providing direct 1:1 pediatric physical therapy  Providing small-group intervention  Conducting classroom push-in treatment  Participating in PT/OT co-treatment  Conducting standardized developmental and motor assessments  Assessing gross motor development  Evaluating motor planning and praxis  Assessing postural control, balance, coordination, and movement quality  Evaluating the potential functional influence of retained primitive reflex patterns  Developing individualized neurodevelopmental movement programs  Integrating movement activities into academic programming  Helping students develop body awareness and self-regulation strategies  Collaborating closely with occupational therapy, psychology, neuropsychology, and educational professionals  Participating in interdisciplinary case conferences  Communicating student progress to the clinical and educational team  Contributing clinical expertise to individualized student planning  Implementing Cajal Academy protocols for student services  Maintaining compliance with Connecticut regulations governing physical therapy practice Clinical Approach Treatment may incorporate:  Developmental physical therapy  Neurodevelopmental physical therapy  Motor learning  Neuromuscular re-education  Reflex integration approaches  Motor planning and praxis  Gross motor development  Postural control  Trunk and core stability  Bilateral coordination  Balance  Dynamic balance  Proprioceptive input  Vestibular-based movement  Sensory-motor integration  Body awareness  Interoception  Functional movement  Coordination  Strength and endurance  Joint stability  Classroom-based movement  Movement incorporated into academic activities Specific technique experience is not required but preferred. We are more interested in finding a pediatric PT who is an excellent clinician, connects naturally with children, thinks creatively, and is excited to learn. Training will be provided in Cajal Academy's proprietary Body-Informed Learning methodology and other approaches that may be new to the therapist. What Makes This Position Different Unlike many traditional school-based PT positions, this role is designed to allow the therapist to focus heavily on clinical reasoning, direct intervention, and interdisciplinary problem-solving rather than administrative case management. You will not be expected to manage a large district-wide caseload or spend the majority of your clinical time navigating administrative requirements. Instead, you will work with a small population of students and become meaningfully integrated into their educational and clinical programming. This is genuine interdisciplinary collaboration rather than a consult-and-leave model. Requirements  Master's or Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy  Active Connecticut Physical Therapist License  Pediatric physical therapy experience  Strong ability to build rapport with children  Strong clinical reasoning and analytical skills  Interest in neurodevelopment and motor learning  Intellectual curiosity and willingness to think creatively  Willingness to learn approaches outside traditional PT training  Ability to collaborate effectively with OT, psychology, neuropsychology, and educational professionals  Commitment to trauma-informed care  Commitment to reflection, feedback, and continued professional development  Current authorization to work in the United States The Ideal Candidate We are looking for a Physical Therapist who is:  Passionate about pediatric neurodevelopment  A creative clinical problem solver  Intellectually curious  Clinically thoughtful  Comfortable with complex pediatric presentations  Interested in the relationship between movement, regulation, and learning  Able to build authentic relationships with children  Comfortable collaborating closely with multiple disciplines  Open to approaches extending beyond traditional PT training  Reflective and receptive to feedback  Excited about helping children understand and advocate for their own bodies Schedule This is a part-time position designed to provide flexibility while allowing the therapist to become meaningfully integrated into the Cajal Academy team.

Hours may include:

 Individual PT sessions  Small-group intervention  Classroom push-in  PT/OT co-treatment  Assessments  Team collaboration  Student planning  Consultation The number of hours and weekly schedule can be discussed based on therapist availability and school needs.

Pay:

$60.00 - $120.00 per hour Expected hours: 6.0 - 15.0 per week

Work Location:

In person