Since 1893, Helen Keller Services (HKS) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have combined hearing and vision loss. HKS serves in the New York City/Long Island area from its new headquarters in dynamic downtown Brooklyn and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults of Sands Point, New York, which has a network of regional offices that extends HKS' reach across the United States.
Helen Keller Services for the Blind is thrilled to announce we will be expanding our Children's Learning Center to two brand-new Long Island locations in Nassau and Suffolk County! These state-of-the-art facilities will serve preschool children who are blind or have low vision, as well as multiple disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or pervasive developmental delays. This expansion reflects HKSB’s commitment to ensuring that Long Island families have access to the same high-quality early education and support services that have transformed lives in our Brooklyn Children Learning Center.
We currently have an exciting opening for a Physical Therapist in our soon to open Suffolk County Preschool! Located in Islandia, NY, the Physical Therapist provides one to one and/or group sessions with preschool children whose IEP mandates physical therapy sessions.
Specific responsibilities will include:
- Record daily session notes into theappropriate system.
- Compose andsubmitall Children’s Learning Center Quarterly and Annual Reports according to the associated deadlines
- Participate and contributeinweekly team meetings and all full staff meetings.
- Maintain a professional demeanor at all times and contribute to the upkeep of their personal space and sharedwork space.
- The Physical Therapist must be able to explain,demonstrate, provideinstructionand reinforce Physical Therapy goals to both the student’s parents and in-classroom staff. This will be done through working collaboratively with his / her follow therapists,teachersand the school principal to incorporate monthly curriculum themes into therapy sessions. The key elements of therapy sessions will include the following, whenappropriate:
- Student’sgross motorskills, this includesboth general range of motion and weight baring.
- Use of Assistive Devices which includes the fit and adjustment of equipment, gaittrainingand equipment management.
- Perform gross motor therapeutic interventions that are both active and passive. This includes bothrangeof motion and weight baring.
- Participate in Orthotic Clinics.
- Use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices
- This position requires a commitment to the students and their families as shown through the following:
- Respect the rights of each student’s family toparticipatein decisionsregardingtheir assessment and instructional program.
- Facilitate each student’s independence and problem solving in their gross motor, sensory processing, self-care, and executive functioning skills
- Communicate regularly withfamiliesof our students through the digital communication platform or other means of communication. Respond to parentinquiresin a timely manner.
- The incumbent mustmaintaina professional demeanor at all times and contribute to the upkeep of their personal space and shared workspace.
- All staff must complete the 5-hour Health and Safety Training as well as the 2-hour Mandated Reporter Training. These pre-service trainings count toward the total training hours required within the first six months of employment.
- Within the first six months of employment, staff must complete a total of 15 hours of approved training.
- Following theinitialsix-month period covering the first year, staffare required tocomplete 15 hours of approved training annually, resulting in a minimum of 30 hours of approved training every two years
- This position isrequiredto register every 3 years with the New York State Office of Professions.
Responsible for other duties as may be assigned or requested by his/her immediate supervisor and/or the Director of the Department.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Master’s or Doctoral Degree from a College accredited in the field of Physical Therapy.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and school-related applications, including Class Dojo and student information systems
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Register every 3 years with the New York State Office of Professions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The employee must frequently lift and/or move children that are up to 50 pounds safely. Additionally, the employee must be able to safely move children into and out of adaptive equipment, wheelchairs and strollers.
BENEFITS
At HKS we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for our employees. We offer generous paid time off and comprehensive benefit package including:
Paid Time Off (in accordance with the school calendar), Paid Personal Time and Paid Sick Time
Health Benefits Package including Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts
Life Insurance and Disability benefits
Voluntary Ancillary Benefits
403 (b) Savings Plan with company match
Employee Assistance Program
