Occupational Therapist (Brooklyn)- $3,500 Sign On Bonus

The Gersh Organization is seeking an Occupational Therapist to provide occupational therapy support to children K-12. A $3,500 sign-on bonus is available.

About the role

At Gersh Autism, we empower students on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential. Serving individuals aged 5-21 across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, our network of K-12 schools provides personalized education tailored to each student’s unique learning style. We offer comprehensive therapeutic services—speech, physical, and occupational therapy—along with vocational training for older students. Our dedicated team collaborates with families to ensure academic, social, and emotional growth, preparing students for success beyond the classroom.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with other disciplines to ensure team understanding of student occupational performance strengths and needs, through evaluation, educational program planning, and service delivery.
• Evaluates the student’s ability and formulates the student’s occupational profile through a variety of functional, behavioral, and standardized assessments, skilled observation, checklists, histories, and interviews.
• Synthesizes evaluation results into a comprehensive written report which reflects strengths and barriers to student participation in the educational environment; directs program development; and guides evidence-based intervention.
• Develops occupationally based intervention plans based on student needs and evaluation results.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings to review evaluation results, integrate findings with other disciplines, offer recommendations, and develop individual education plans and intervention plans to achieve IEP goals.
• Teaches, monitors, and collaborates with educational personnel, community agencies, parents, and students to increase understanding of the student’s occupational performance.
• Provides continuing education and in-services for educational personnel, parents, and community-based service providers.
• Follows a treatment plan/IEP goals developed to improve, develop, restore, or maintain a child’s active participation in self-maintenance, work, leisure, and play in educational environments.
• Takes a caseload of a minimum of 45 30-minute sessions per week and covers other counselor sessions as needed.
• Ensures make-up sessions are completed within the month and utilization of students’ mandates per the IEP, or recommendation given at a CSE meeting, is at or above 85% each week.
• Maintains high standards of confidentiality, attendance, and flexibility, while working cooperatively with Supervisors and other employees.
• Maintains records and documentation.
• Recommends modification of treatment approaches to reflect the child’s changing needs.
• Communicates and interacts with other team members, school personnel, and families.
• Maintains treatment areas, equipment, and supply inventory.
• Develops and maintains a daily schedule, which includes students/classrooms and other activities/duties.
• Performs other responsibilities related to the position as assigned by the Program Director.

Requirements

• Successfully completed and graduated from an accredited occupational therapy professional program recognized by NBCOT and completed all fieldwork requirements.
• State OTR/L Licensure in the state in which you were hired.
• One year of experience as an occupational therapist, preferably in a school system or other pediatric practice setting.
• Sensory knowledge.
• Experience working with children with disabilities is a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to keep students safe from themselves and others and, in some cases, implement CPI (therapeutic holds) procedures.
• Ability to remove oneself from potentially harmful situations and, in some cases, lift a child.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and move throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift (at least 50-65 pounds), assist, and/or physically support students, which may include lifting or guiding students of varying sizes.
• Ability to physically intervene when required to ensure safety (per CPI training).
• Ability to remove oneself and/or others from unsafe situations quickly.
• Ability to maintain attention and focus in a dynamic, high-stimulation environment.
• Ability to multi-task and shift priorities quickly.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and decision-making, particularly in high-pressure or safety-sensitive situations.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and maintain professional relationships.
• Ability to perform duties under stress, including during behavioral escalations.

Working Conditions

• Location: Downtown Brooklyn
• Schedule: Monday – Friday / 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (once a week until 4:00 PM for a team meeting)
• School/classroom setting
• May require lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Frequent walking, sitting, with occasional standing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k matching)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Training & Development

Pay

The pay range for this role is $90,000 - $105,000 USD per year (Brooklyn).