Summary:
The Physical Therapist (PT) is responsible for evaluating, diagnosing, and treating patients with physical injuries, disabilities, or movement disorders. The Physical Therapist works closely with the Child and Family Developmental team.
The Physical Therapist (PT) provides specialized evaluation, treatment, consultation, and care planning for children, adolescents, and adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), developmental disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The Physical Therapist works as part of a multidisciplinary team to identify motor, mobility, coordination, balance, sensory-motor, and functional limitations that may affect an individual's participation in home, school, community, and daily activities.
The Physical Therapist (PT) contributes to comprehensive diagnostic and functional assessments and develops treatment plans, culturally responsive, trauma-informed interventions to improve mobility, independence, safety, and quality of life.
Major Responsibilities:
- Conduct comprehensive physical therapy evaluations for individuals with FASD, autism, developmental delays, and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Assess gross motor development, strength, balance, coordination, posture, gait, endurance, range of motion, motor planning, and functional mobility.
- Identify physical and motor challenges that may affect participation in activities of daily living, education, recreation, employment, and community activities.
- Evaluate developmental milestones and identify delays requiring intervention or additional specialty services.
- Assess sensory-motor factors that may contribute to difficulties with movement, balance, body awareness, coordination, or participation.
- Develop individualized physical therapy treatment plans based on assessment findings, patient and family priorities, and multidisciplinary recommendations.
- Provide therapeutic exercise, motor-development activities, balance and coordination training, strengthening, mobility training, and other evidence-informed physical therapy interventions.
- Develop strategies to improve gross motor skills, motor planning, postural control, coordination, and physical participation.
- Recommend adaptive equipment, mobility devices, positioning strategies, environmental modifications, and other supports when appropriate.
- Educate parents, caregivers, teachers, community providers, and other professionals regarding strategies for supporting physical development and functional independence.
- Develop home and community-based exercise and activity programs that can be incorporated into the individual's daily routine.
- Monitor progress and modify interventions according to patient response, developmental changes, and functional needs.
- Provide services through in-person, community-based, outreach, and telehealth models when clinically appropriate.
- Adapt treatment approaches to accommodate difficulties with attention, memory, sequencing, processing speed, and executive functioning.
- Collaborate with the diagnostic team to distinguish motor and functional concerns from behavioral or cognitive challenges.
- Provide practical recommendations that families and caregivers can incorporate into daily routines.
- Evaluating gross motor development, balance, coordination, strength, posture, gait, and motor planning.
- Adapting treatment environments and activities based on individual sensory, communication, behavioral, and developmental needs.
- Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Education Requirements:
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited physical therapy program.
- Current Physical Therapist license or eligibility for licensure in the state of practice.
- Experience working with pediatric, developmental, neurological, or neurodevelopmental populations preferred
- Experience working with individuals with autism, FASD, developmental disabilities, or complex behavioral health needs preferred.
- Knowledge of developmental milestones, motor development, sensory-motor functioning, adaptive equipment, and evidence-informed rehabilitation practices.
- Experience providing services in rural, Tribal, underserved, or culturally diverse communities preferred.
- Five years of work experience in a behavioral health services, social services or other related agency with supervisory level experience.
- Willingness to promote continuous quality improvement activities.
- Willingness to follow Chugachmiut employee values. Interest in and knowledge of Alaskan cultures (in particular Alaskan Native cultures).
- No DWI or other major alcohol or other drug violations within the last 36 months.
Hours of Work:
The hours of work are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with one hour for lunch. Chugachmiut maintains a drug/alcohol and non-smoking work environment. Possible nights and weekends as needed. Travel to remote locations by boat, snowmobile, ATV, or small plane is required, and employees must be willing and able to travel.
**Offering a sign-on bonus of $5,000-$10,000 after hire**
