Occupational Therapist

Job Description

Job Title: Occupational Therapist (OT)
Department: Rehabilitation Services
Employee Status: Exempt Professional-Learned Professional
Reports to: Senior Director of Rehabilitation
Primary Location: VISIONS, 500 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013
Salary Range: $80,000-$95,000 annually, with a $3,000 signing bonus and a 5% additional bonus after one year of satisfactory employment

Occupational Therapy Definition

The primary goal of the occupational therapist is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life (occupations).  The occupational therapist will achieve this outcome by enhancing the individual’s ability to participate, by modifying the environment, or adapting the activity to better support participation.   The OT will work with children and adults of all ages, whose challenges may have been present since birth, the result of an accident, illness, aging or lifestyle. The VISIONS OT will provide instruction and reinforcement of adaptive daily living skills to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.  Individuals with other disabilities, injuries, and illnesses can also be addressed within the scope of vision rehabilitation services.

Occupational therapy services may include comprehensive evaluations of the participant’s home and other environments (e.g., workplace or school).  The OT makes recommendations for adaptive equipment and provides training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregivers. Occupational therapy practitioners will execute a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and view the person is an integral part of the therapy team.

Training is provided either in the client’s home or in an appropriate community setting as determined by the client’s needs.  Individual or group lessons may include: kitchen skills, communication skills, financial management, home management, personal management skills, keyboarding and Braille.  Lessons will incorporate the use of adaptive equipment and use of residual vision as appropriate.  The OT may also assist the client in learning how to utilize low vision aids as employed for tasks.

The OT will also work with children and young adults with severe multiple impairments and their families, for a minimum of one-week period every August at VISIONS Center on Blindness in Spring Valley NY.

Monitoring participant’s safety and progress and evaluating their environments are also essential components of the OT’s job responsibilities. 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide instruction in vision rehab training skills including meal management, home management, financial management, personal management, and communication skills. Training is administered individually or in a group setting.
2. Provide instruction in activities of daily living which may include but are not limited to bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing and eating skills; transfers and positioning; environmental assessments; establish an activity/exercise program to increase participation in ADLS.
3. Address balance and gait issues including providing instruction in all supportive ambulation devices (walkers, canes, crutches, rollators and wheelchairs. 
4. Recommend, and order safety equipment such as tub seats and safety grab bars as needed.
5. Advocate for procurement, repair and replacement of durable medical equipment on participant’s behalf with vendors, when appropriate.
6. Provide consultation to vision rehabilitation professionals (VRT/O&M) when a participant’s physical or medical condition is an obstacle to increased independence.
7. Keep the Senior Director of Rehabilitation apprised of your participants progress and make referrals to other service providers.
8. Create and maintain a schedule of appointments, seeing a minimum of three participants a day four days a week, or the equivalent.
9. Serve VISIONS’ participants at the 500 Greenwich St office, the West 23^rd Street Location, VISIONS Center on Blindness in Rockland County and other locations as assigned. 
10. Document participant progress through the use of standardized departmental and funder reports. Submit progress reports and case notes within the time frame required by the New York State Commission for the Blind and/or other funders.
11. Close cases within specified time frames.
12. Complete daily schedules, time sheets, vacation requests and expense reports in a timely manner.
13. Participate in staff in service training and community conferences to maintain proficiency in the use of methods and equipment to meet client’s needs.  Participate in team meetings and make referrals to other service providers in and outside the organization.
14. Serve VISIONS’ clients in all 5 Boroughs of New York City, and as needed, Long Island or the Hudson Valley.
15. May be required to work occasional Evenings and weekend days.
16. Provide services for multiple impaired children during programs at VISIONS Center on Blindness (VCB) as assigned by the Senior Director of Rehabilitation.
17. Other duties as assigned

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited occupational therapy program
• New York State occupational therapy licensure is required
• Experience working in the blindness field, or possess an understanding of the field of vision rehabilitation and exhibit practical techniques for working with people who have partial sight or who are blind.
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize logical thinking, problem solving, and creativity.
• Organized, self-starting, assertive, resourceful and goal-oriented
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• Computer literacy including word-processing, email, Internet, spreadsheet and data management skills. Proficiency in Google Suite is a plus.
• Fluency in Spanish or another language, including American Sign Language is a plus.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $95,000 annually, commensurate with experience. A $3,000 sign on bonus, to be repaid to VISIONS if candidate leaves within one year of initial hire. A 5% additional bonus after one year of satisfactory employment.

Location

Location: This full-time exempt position is located at VISIONS main office at 500 Greenwich Street, 3rd Floor in Manhattan, in the community, occasionally at VISIONS Center on Blindness in Rockland County and VISIONS at Selis Manor on West 23rd street in Chelsea).

Why VISIONS

How To Apply

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to Bill Hixson, Senior Director of Rehabilitation, at whixson@visionsvcb.org.

VISIONS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rehabilitation and social service agency incorporated in 1926.  VISIONS provides service for blind and visually impaired people of all ages in the Greater New York Metropolitan Area.

VISIONS is an equal opportunity employer.  All job candidates, consultants, volunteers, and interns 18 years of age and older, must consent to a background investigation including a criminal justice system search, reference and education checks.