A professional who assists in providing self-care training and therapeutic treatments to residents of mental retardation center. Respnsibilities include:

• Demonstrates activities such as bathing and dressing to train residents in daily self-care practices.
• Converses with residents to reinforce positive behaviors and to promote social interaction.
• Serves meals and eats with residents to act as role model.
• Accompanies residents on shopping trips and instructs and counsels residents in purchase of personal items.
• Aids staff in administering therapeutic activities, such as physical exercises, occupational arts and crafts, and recreational games, to residents.
• Restrains disruptive residents to prevent injury to themselves and others.
• Observes and documents residents' behaviors, such as speech production, feeding patterns, and toilet training, to facilitate assessment and development of treatment goals.
• Attends to routine health-care needs of residents under supervision of medical personnel.
• May give medications as prescribed by physician.
• May train parents or guardians in care of deinstitutionalized residents.