Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (9237)

SEPTA is the sixth-largest transportation system in the U.S., connecting communities across a 2,200-square-mile service region. We are at the forefront of innovation in the transit industry, ensuring reliable and efficient services while driving economic growth in the Philadelphia region.

About the role

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant will support SEPTA’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility objectives by assisting Occupational Therapists in ADA Functional Assessments as part of the ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determination process, and conducting travel training and orientation.

Responsibilities

• Supports OTR/L in completion of physical, cognitive, and psychological assessments of ADA Paratransit applicants, applying all health and safety regulations to mitigate risks and form independent and objective reports of paratransit applicant’s functional ability to use accessible fixed-route service.
• Provides travel training for new and registered ADA and Senior customers, and supports the Occupational Therapist(s) in travel training in middle and high schools, and to other settings and populations as needed.
• Reports metrics to assess the effectiveness of SEPTA’s Travel Training program and recommends changes based on those metrics.
• Collaborates and assists OTR/L’s with supervision of level I & level II graduate Occupational Therapy and OTA students.
• Prepares, organizes, and provides presentations and training for other SEPTA departments, community-based programs, school systems, and SEPTA customers.
• Coordinates with SEPTA personnel to ensure customers are transported to and from assessments/training.
• Supports resolutions of ADA appeals and any other ADA eligibility matters as needed.
• Handles confidential matters in accordance with SEPTA’s confidentiality policies, rules, and regulations.
• Complies with all Authority and departmental safety and security policies and procedures, reports any safety concerns, compromises, or hazards.
• This position is in-office or community-based five days a week; remote work is not permitted.
• Must be able to complete a mile of community mobility, lift up to 50 lbs, push a manual wheelchair 270 ft multiple times a day through multiple doors and thresholds, and work under fluorescent lighting for up to eight hours a day.
• Performs other duties as assigned/required.

Requirements

• Must possess and maintain an active Professional License and certification to practice Occupational Therapy in the state of Pennsylvania.
• Two full-time, eight-week, level two clinical rotations.
• Familiarity with Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and the legislative requirements for implementing Occupational Therapy Services in the state of Pennsylvania.
• Ability to perform facets of the Occupational Therapy Process including assessment, implementation of interventions, and outcome measurement of applicant’s performance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to interact with all levels of SEPTA management, private corporations, public entities, consultants, and other project managers as required.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program with an Associate’s degree; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• At least one year of experience integrating Occupational Therapy Services in public transit and community-based services is desirable.
• Experience working with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum and with intellectual disabilities is desirable.
• Experience working with adults with physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments is desirable.

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage – medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans with little to no employee premiums.
• Retirement security – participate in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Paid parental leave, generous vacation time, and paid holidays.
• Wellness programs and resources to support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Tuition reimbursement to support education and career advancement.
• Student loan assistance – positions qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• Free SEPTA Transportation Pass, providing unlimited access to all SEPTA services.

Pay

Salary range: $59,540.00 - $74,412.00

Only candidates who are authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship will be considered.