TEACHER ASSISTANT COGNITIVE EDUCATION SPECIALIST ASSISTANT

TheraPeeds Family Center is a premier, world-renowned therapy center that uses the science of neuroplasticity to retrain the brains and minds of children and adults with physiological and psychological/emotional limitations.  

Our brain-based interventions are based on our proprietary H.O.P.E Method, which is a neurodevelopmental approach to therapy, based on the principles of brain development. For over 20 years, we have established the effectiveness of brain rewiring using the H.O.P.E Method.

Our sister method, the W.A.Y (What About You) Model, is a research-based intervention designed to retrain the mind using the principles of Positive Psychology and the science of Neuroplasticity. The result is a powerful combination of tools that uses a systematic and practical approach to build self-awareness, mindfulness, and clarity in the face of challenges and limitations in what we call the 4 P’s: Professional Life, Personal Life, Partnering Life, and Parenting Life.

Together, both methods have been integrated as a brain-building and mind training system that uses neuroplasticity to make lasting changes in the brains and minds of our clients, allowing them to break away from limitations in skills and behaviors that impede their ability to function at their best in multiple areas of their lives. 

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

1.    Assist in performing standardized assessments to assess cognitive and academic abilities

2.    Making and documenting clinical observations about classroom behavior and abilities

3.    Documenting client progress

4.    Working as an integral part of an interdisciplinary therapy team

5.    Assist in teaching/treating clients in individualized 1:1 and small group settings

6.    Writing individualized reports reflecting the progress of each client

7.    Contribute by planning and following the clinical team's plans for clients

8.    Document treatment plan progress following the Company communication procedures.

Essential Physical Duties:

This position requires the staff member to engage in a variety of physical activities with clients of varying abilities. This can include non-ambulatory clients to mobile clients that engage in unexpected, unpredictable and fast movements. Clients ranging in age from 5 months to adult. Physical activity in this position requires the staff member to engage in movements that include and are not limited to any combination of:

Gross Motor:

• Supine (lying on back)
• Prone (lying on belly)
• Sitting- variety of position on floor, stools, low to standard chairs 
• Squatting 
• Bending (at knee and hip)
• Standing (up to 6-7 hours per day)
• Walking
• Running
• Jumping
• Climbing
• Kicking and stopping ball
• Balance (negotiate busy environment with moving children and equipment)

Upper Body:

• Bilateral hand use (use of both hands)
• Reaching in variety of planes of motion 45, 90 and 180 degree range of shoulder flexion and abduction)
• Bending of elbows
• Wrist extension and flexion
• Forearm pronation and supination
• Pulling
• Pushing
• Lifting (could be weight of up to non-ambulatory child and therapy equipment)
• Throwing and catching balls (variety of sizes and weights)
• Grasping
• Grabbing
• Isolated finger movements 

Knowledge/Skills, Education, and Licensing Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in the field of education (professional certificate in ESE preferred) or equivalent combination of education and experience working with children, teens, or adults with special needs
• Bilingual (English / Spanish).