Physical Therapist - Assistive Technology Clinic

Position: Physical Therapist – Assistive Technology Clinic

Position Location: Peoria Service Center, 507 E. Armstrong Avenue, Peoria, IL 61603

Position Schedule: The Peoria Service Center clinic hours are Monday through Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm

Position Type:  Part time

A Specialized PT Opportunity!

What could change for a child with the right mobility equipment?

As a Physical Therapist in our Assistive Technology Clinic, you'll help children and families navigate complex mobility and positioning needs, from evaluation and equipment recommendations to fittings and follow-up. You'll work alongside families, vendors, and funding sources to help children access the equipment they need to participate more fully and independently in everyday life.

This role is primarily focused on serving as a Physical Therapist in our Assistive Technology Clinic 1–2 days per week. Additional hours are available, but not required, and may be spent providing outpatient pediatric rehabilitation and/or early intervention services, giving you the opportunity to combine specialized assistive technology work with broader pediatric PT practice.

About Us

At Easterseals Central Illinois, physical therapy is about more than exercises and milestones. It's about helping children participate more fully in the things that matter most to them and their families. As a Physical Therapist on our team, you'll work alongside children, families, and an interdisciplinary team to help children build strength, mobility, coordination, balance, and confidence while developing skills they can use in everyday life. Our Assistive Technology Clinic adds another dimension to pediatric physical therapy by helping children access equipment and mobility solutions that support greater independence, participation, and quality of life.

Your Work May Include

Assistive Technology Clinic — Your Primary Focus

Evaluate children with complex mobility, positioning, and equipment needs and help identify solutions that support their functional goals and everyday participation. You'll work collaboratively with children and families, equipment vendors, funding sources, and other professionals to:

• Evaluate mobility and positioning needs
• Recommend appropriate adaptive equipment and mobility devices
• Complete documentation and letters of medical necessity as needed
• Collaborate with vendors and funding sources throughout the equipment process
• Coordinate equipment orders and fittings
• Provide follow-up to assess how equipment is working for the child and family
• Make adjustments or recommendations as a child's needs change

From the initial evaluation through equipment delivery and follow-up, you'll have the opportunity to see how the right equipment can translate into meaningful changes in a child's daily life. 

Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation

Use additional scheduled hours to provide individualized physical therapy to children with developmental, neurological, and physical needs. Treatment focuses on functional mobility, motor skills, balance, coordination, strength, and participation in everyday activities and family routines. 

Early Intervention Services

Work with children under age 3 in their natural environments, including homes, daycares, and community settings. Partner with families and other disciplines to support developmental milestones and integrate therapy strategies into everyday routines. 

Aquatic Therapy

Use the benefits of warm-water therapy to support children working toward goals related to strength, balance, coordination, endurance, mobility, and functional movement. Our Peoria Service Center features a warm-water, zero-entry therapy pool. 

Family-Centered Care

Partner with parents and caregivers throughout the therapy process. Develop individualized home programs, provide family training, and help families incorporate therapy strategies and equipment into everyday routines.

Why Join Easterseals Central Illinois?

• Specialized Clinical Experience - If you're interested in assistive technology and complex mobility, this role offers the opportunity to make AT a meaningful part of your clinical practice while continuing to have the option of broader pediatric PT work. You'll have opportunities to build expertise in mobility and positioning, adaptive equipment, wheelchairs, standers, and other assistive technology while working alongside experienced clinicians and equipment vendors.
• From Evaluation to Implementation - Your involvement doesn't end with a recommendation. You'll have the opportunity to follow children through the assistive technology process, from evaluation and equipment selection to orders, fittings, and follow-up.
• A Team That Works Together - You'll never be working in isolation. Our interdisciplinary team includes Occupational, Physical, Speech-Language, and Feeding Therapists, along with behavioral and counseling professionals. You'll have opportunities to participate in case studies, medical staffing, caregiver meetings, and other team discussions where different perspectives come together to support the child and family.
• Therapy That Fits Into Real Life - Our approach goes beyond what happens in the therapy room. You'll work with families to address functional goals and participation in daily activities and family routines, whether therapy takes place at our service center, in a child's natural environment, or through telehealth when appropriate.
• Opportunities to Teach and Mentor - As your experience grows, you may have opportunities to mentor new staff members, supervise Physical Therapist Assistants and clinical students, and share your knowledge with the next generation of clinicians.

See the Impact:

What Sets Us Apart

• Specialized Role With Flexibility - Spend 1–2 days each week focused on Assistive Technology, with the option to add hours in outpatient pediatric rehabilitation and/or early intervention if you're interested in a broader pediatric PT caseload. Prefer to keep your schedule focused on Assistive Technology? That's an option, too.
• A Broader View of Mobility - Look beyond traditional treatment approaches to consider how equipment, positioning, mobility, and environmental supports can help children participate more independently in everyday life.
• Collaborative Equipment Planning - Work directly with families, vendors, funding sources, and other professionals to identify practical solutions that meet a child's individual needs.
• Access to Aquatic Therapy - Our Peoria Service Center features a warm-water, zero-entry therapy pool, providing another opportunity to incorporate aquatic therapy into pediatric treatment.
• Time to Provide Quality Care - Our 60% productivity expectation allows time during your paid workday for documentation, care coordination, meetings, equipment-related responsibilities, and other important clinical work. When a client cancels, you are still paid for your scheduled time.
• Work-Life Balance - Enjoy a Monday–Friday schedule with no nights or weekends, giving you predictable time outside of work.
• Quality and Accountability - Easterseals Central Illinois maintains CARF accreditation for Pediatric Specialty Outpatient Rehabilitation, reflecting our commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation for this position falls within the range of $28.85 - 38.46 hourly. The final offer will consider several individualized factors including relevant experience, scope and responsibilities of the role, qualifications and credentials, talent availability and specialization, and organizational needs. This range is subject to change in the future.

Compensation is just one component of the total rewards package offered for this role. Easterseals Central Illinois offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of our team members:

• Paid Time Off & Holidays
  • PTO: Vacation, Sick, and Personal time available to employees working 16+ hours per week
  • Paid Holiday break: Employees working 16+ hours per week are eligible for the Christmas Eve through New Year's Day holiday shutdown
  • 5 Paid Holidays: Available to employees working 40 hours per week
  • Event Days: Earn additional PTO hours if you volunteer with us!
• Comprehensive Group Health Insurance Available to employees working 30+ hours per week
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with multiple plan options
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent Care expenses
  • Employer-Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance 
  • Voluntary Life and AD&D Coverage options for employee, spouse, and/or children
  • Supplemental Coverage Options: Short Term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Plans
• Retirement Planning
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Employee Support & Discounts
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for 24/7 confidential support
  • Exclusive Employee Discounts through PerkSpot and local gym partnerships
• Professional Development
  • Annual Professional Development & CEU Allowance
  • New Employee Referral Bonus 

Easterseals qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

All benefits are subject to eligibility, terms, and plan guidelines.

Position Objective: The Physical Therapist functions as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, providing Assistive Technology, early intervention, and medical rehabilitation services to clients and their families. The Physical Therapist evaluates clients referred to Assistive Technology Clinic, establishes equipment recommendations and goals, collaborates with client families/vendors/funding sources to obtain equipment, and educates families on equipment use and safety. The Physical Therapist also evaluates clients referred to the Center, established treatment goals, and designs and implements specific treatment programs for individuals. The Physical Therapist assigns and supervises treatment programs to be carried out by support personnel where appropriate.

Job Functions:

Assistive Technology Clinic 

• Completes Assistive Technology Clinic evaluations in conjunction with vendor to assess, trial, and recommend adaptive mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, gait trainers, and standers aimed at promoting children’s independence and mobility. 
• Composes Letters of Medical Necessity to justify adaptive mobility equipment recommendations from Assistive Technology Clinic for reimbursement.
• Provides Assistive Technology Clinic fittings of adaptive mobility devices, including client/family education on equipment use and safety, and follow-up as appropriate for clients served. 
• Maintains communication between vendors and funding sources regarding status of equipment recommendations, denials, and appeals.

Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation/Early Intervention Services

• Completes initial evaluation and evaluation report(s) for each client. Establishes individualized therapy goals and generates data for Plan of Care, identifying appropriate treatment diagnoses and therapy recommendations.
• Completes progress notes every three to six months or as required.
• Provides direct therapy with a focus on client and family priorities addressing functional limitations and participation in daily activities and family routines at service centers, natural environments, and or by telehealth. 
• Participates in parent/guardian Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and multidisciplinary and caregiver meetings.  Attends medical staffing/case studies to participate in interdisciplinary team discussions.
• Reports cancellations and no shows to the scheduling team for proper documentation and action.  Accurately completes documentation and billing in EHR following payer guidelines. 
• Develops and instructs family members in home program activities and revises as necessary. Provides parent/guardian/family training during the session regarding HEP and therapy strategies.
• Participates as needed or requested in the smooth transition of an individual to a public school program or other placement as necessary. Corresponds with physicians and other professionals involved in the care/treatment of the client/family as necessary and documents in EHR.
• Attends program services meetings, discipline meetings, rehab staff meetings, case studies, and in-services.
• Completes competencies and maintains established departmental policies and procedures, safety and infection control standards, quality assurance, and accreditation standards of the Center.
• Ensures that all requirements for credentialing and licensure are maintained (e.g. Early Interventions credentialing, CPR, Illinois license, certification). 

Marginal Responsibilities:

• Mentors new staff members as requested.
• Fulfills contractual obligations as requested.
• Participate in additional clinics (ex. Orthotics) as requested.
• Supervises clinical students and Physical Therapist Assistants as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a degree in Physical Therapy is required.
• Must be licensed in the State of Illinois or eligible for licensure.
• Illinois Early Intervention credential or eligible for credential (preferred)
• Experience helping clients obtain assistive technology equipment and writing letters of medical necessity (preferred)

Easterseals Central Illinois is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Easterseals is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, call 309.686.1177.