Occupational Therapist OT - Cape Coral FL - W2 or 1099 option

ABOUT THRIVE THERAPIES Thrive Therapies Group is a pediatric healthcare organization on a mission to revolutionize the care of children with disabilities and those facing barriers to access. We provide results-driven services and intelligent tools to support children’s development, well-being, and health. At the heart of this mission are the people who change the trajectories of children’s lives. We work for them. We work exclusively in K–12 schools — because school is where clinical care becomes transformative. Roughly half of all children identified with a disability receive their services in schools, not in healthcare settings. For many of those children, the school-based clinician is the care. Thrive is built around that reality. We work exclusively with historically under-resourced, neurodiverse K–12 communities. Equity isn’t a tagline — it’s the core of why we exist. Our school partners request Thrive by name because they want better outcomes for students with disabilities. WHAT MAKES THRIVE THERAPIES DIFFERENT OUR MISSION There are organizations that place clinicians in schools. Thrive is something different. We are a pediatric healthcare organization built around a singular belief: that school is where clinical care becomes transformative — that a therapy goal in a clinic is a therapy goal, but a therapy goal in a school becomes a friendship on the playground, a kid who feels they belong, a child who gets to participate in the full arc of childhood. Everything we build — our technology, our workload model, our clinical community — exists to protect that work and the clinicians who deliver it. THE WORKLOAD MODEL Thrive uses a workload model that accounts for the full scope of OT work — evaluations, equipment, direct service, consultation, and documentation — and sizes your assignment to be sustainable for the long haul. THE TECHNOLOGY Our AI-powered tools were built by clinicians who were tired of losing evenings to documentation. They handle evaluation report generation, session notes, paperwork, and progress summaries — and they give our clinicians 10+ hours back every week. The tools are continuously improved based on clinician feedback. They belong to you as much as anyone. THE CLINICAL COMMUNITY You have a community here and are never alone. You have clinical supervision through a role-alike leader, quarterly professional development, monthly role-alike communities of practice, and peers across the organization you can reach every day. WHAT YOU'LL DO As a Thrive OT in the Southwest Florida region, you will deliver school-based occupational therapy services to students K–12 whose disabilities affect their ability to access education. Your work will focus on fine motor development, sensory processing, self-care, and classroom participation. You are a full member of the community. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES EVALUATION & ELIGIBILITY Conduct comprehensive OT evaluations to determine educational need and IDEA eligibility, including assessment of fine motor skills, sensory processing, visual-motor integration, self-care, and classroom participation Administer and interpret standardized assessment tools (Beery VMI, SIPT, BOT-2, SPM, COPM, and others) as appropriate to the referral Write evaluation reports that are clinically rigorous, educationally relevant, and accessible to IEP team members and families Participate in eligibility determination meetings and translate OT findings for educational planning purposes Conduct re-evaluations (triennials) in accordance with IDEA timelines IEP DEVELOPMENT & SERVICE DELIVERY Develop individualized OT IEP goals targeting skills that affect educational access — including handwriting, fine motor coordination, sensory regulation, and functional self-care Deliver direct individual and small-group therapy sessions using evidence-based OT frameworks (Ayres Sensory Integration, CO-OP, sensory diet programming, and others) Design and implement sensory diets, environmental modifications, and adaptive equipment recommendations to support classroom participation Provide consultative services to teachers and paraprofessionals on sensory accommodations and adaptive strategies Maintain accurate, timely service logs and progress notes — supported by Thrive’s AI documentation tools COLLABORATION & ADAPTIVE SUPPORTS Partner with SLPs, PTs, BCBAs, school psychologists, and special education teachers on integrated, student-centered IEP teams Evaluate for and recommend adaptive equipment, positioning tools, and assistive technology to support educational access Train teachers, paraprofessionals, and families on sensory strategies, handwriting supports, and ADL skill generalization Contribute to RTI/MTSS frameworks by providing universal sensory screening and Tier 1/Tier 2 motor skill consultation Coordinate with physical therapists on overlapping mobility, positioning, and motor goals QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED Master’s or bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an ACOTE-accredited program NBCOT certification (OTR) in good standing Active state OT license in good standing, or documented initiation of licensure transfer prior to start date Knowledge of IDEA, IEP process, and the educational model of OT PREFERRED 1+ years of school-based OT experience Training or certification in Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) or related sensory processing frameworks Experience with AAC and assistive technology evaluation and implementation Familiarity with RTI/MTSS and universal design for learning (UDL) frameworks Experience serving students with autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, or developmental coordination disorder COMPENSATION STRUCTURE Compensation is paid over 10 months, aligned to the school-year calendar. All figures below reflect the Southwest Florida market. Base Compensation W-2 Base Salary $56,000 – $68,800,based on experience A salary that reflects the expertise you bring. W-2 employment means full benefits, paid time off, retirement match, dis