West Valley School District #208

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Primary Responsibility:

The Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant is responsible for implementing intervention and therapy regarding students' fine and gross motor skills and functional abilities (e.g. perceptual-motor, hand functions, motor coordination, sensory development, muscle strength, etc.) under the direction of the Occupational Therapist.

Directly Responsible To:  Director of Special Education/Occupational Therapist

Responsibilities:

• Adapts school and classroom environment, tools and materials under the supervision 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.
• Troubleshoots problems with assistive devices (e.g. computer technology, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring that equipment is in proper working order and/or providing alternative strategies.
• Transports a variety of items (e.g. puzzles, games, assistive devices, assessment tools, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the availability of materials required for therapy sessions.

Essential Job Functions:

• Work under the direction of the assigned Occupational Therapist.
• Provide direct services to students.
• Assist the Occupational Therapist with evaluations and IEP's for students with Occupational Therapy needs.
• Provide consultation to teachers/staff regarding the Occupational Therapy needs of students.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• COTA Credentials REQUIRED
• High school diploma or equivalent. May be required to acquire a current first aid/CPR card.

Bilingual Preferred

Working Relationships:

Communicates regularly with students, parents/guardians, and teaching staff.  Required to deal with a wide

range of student behaviors; required to deal with a wide range of physical and emotional disabilities; may

occasionally deal with distraught or difficult students. 

Working Conditions:

The daily work is performed in a classroom setting.  May be required to work outdoors in inclement weather;

participate in daily physical education classes; take several brisk walks per day; lift, move, and position

students and equipment; supervise the playground, bus loading/unloading; attend to students’ personal

hygiene; may be exposed to biting, spitting, and hitting behavior; may need to take precautions to avoid

exposure to student bodily fluids and cleaning or disinfecting compounds; required to work in non-routine

positions for extended periods. 

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

SKILLS are required to perform multiple tasks with a potential need to upgrade skills in order to meet

changing job conditions.  Specific skills required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:

tutoring individual and/or groups of students; following a structured teaching and learning plan; operating

standard office equipment and maintaining accurate records.

KNOWLEDGE is required to assure proper conduct of students; maintain record keeping systems, utilize

technology equipment; perform high school level math, read a variety of manuals; present information to

others; understand complex, multi-step written and oral instructions.  Specific knowledge required to

satisfactorily perform the functions of the job includes: concepts of grammar and punctuation; stages of child

development and learning styles.

ABILITY is required to identify and adjust to individual student’s needs; be innovative and improvise to meet

changing situations; understand and communicate effectively; understand and carry out oral and written

instructions; be flexible to accommodate changing schedules; ability to squat, bend, and walk without

limitations; schedule activities; collate data, and use basic, job-related equipment.  Flexibility is required to

work with others in a variety of circumstances; operate equipment using standardized methods; work with a

wide diversity of individuals; Specific abilities required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job

include: communicating with diverse groups; maintaining confidentiality; setting priorities; and working as

part of a team.

Personal Qualities:

Must be able to work with children and adults, be punctual, dependable and accountable to task completion

requirements.  Be self-initiating and self-confident, show enthusiasm and friendliness, and possess

organizational ability.

Working Environment:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands: occasional lifting (able to lift 50 pounds and assisting in lifting over 50 pounds), carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity.  Generally the job requires 34% sitting, 33% walking, and 33% standing.  The job related is performed under a generally hazard free environment and in a clean atmosphere.

Healthcare Benefits (SEBB): (All Employees who work 630 hours per school year are eligible.)

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability

Additional Benefits:

• Washington State Retirement (PERS, SERS & TERS)
• Paid Leave:

  - Paid Holiday (260-day employees and bargaining groups that have holidays included within their CBA)

  - Sick Leave

  - Personal Leave

  - Vacation (260-day employees only)

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• VEBA (Non-Rep, WVEA, Principal, Directors and Superintendent(s) ONLY)

Work Schedule:

7.5 hours per day/5 days a week/185 days + 11 Holidays

$36.67 an hour