Associate Director of Student Accessibility Services - St. Mary's University

The Associate Director is responsible for the development of programs, policies, and processes for Student Accessibility Services. This position serves as the primary point of contact for comprehensive student support for students with disabilities to ensure equal access to educational programs and services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinates University programs to assure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Fair Housing Act, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to persons with disabilities.
• Evaluates current processes and resources to identify current, short-term and long-term needs related to trends in disability support services, accommodated testing and testing programs.
• Conducts intake interviews; analyzes documentation for eligibility determination and formulation of reasonable accommodation plans to ensure equal access to programs and service, engages in interactive process with students, and provide recommendations for academic accommodations
• Provides individual consultation with students, staff, and faculty regarding rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities, characteristics of specific disabilities in an educational setting, and self-advocacy skills
• Follows departmental expectation of detailed and timely documentation regarding any and all contact with students seeking and receiving support from the department
• Implements, manages, and evaluates programs, activities, services, assistive technology, and accommodations to enable people with disabilities to achieve equal access (note-taking, CART scribe services, and other special accommodations)
• Develops, implements, and publishes best practice procedure and process handbook to ensure equitable treatment of students with disabilities for students, faculty, and staff; monitors trends, best practices, and legislation that affect accessibility in higher education
• Designs and conducts ADA/disability educational workshops to increase the academic and personal support to students with disabilities; promotes understanding, develops awareness, and educates faculty, staff, and students regarding campus accessibility
• Works with campus colleagues to enhance the delivery of accommodation support for online students, develops compliance plans and resolves issues of electronic information accessibility.
• Establishes and nourishes collaborative and consultative relationships with external disability and accessibility organizations, community resources, and outside agencies to innovatively meet and improve services and program initiatives to support student success.
• Researches, identifies and completes grant applications to seek external funding to supplement services and student support; manages the operational budget and project expenditures
• Directly supervises staff that provide support to students seeking and receiving academic accommodations
• Compiles, analyzes, and prepares data for monthly, annual and other reports as necessary
• Serves on assigned committees, boards or commissions
• Provides operational support assistance during campus-wide projects
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; Master's degree in Educational Administration, Counseling, Education, Psychology, Social Work, Rehabilitation or related field is preferred.
• Candidates with equivalent experience or with a strong aptitude and in-depth knowledge of the field of disability services, the accommodation process, current trends, policies, and laws (Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, FERPA, Title IX, etc.) – encouraged to apply
• 2 - 5 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities in a professional setting to include experience with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, sensory disabilities, chronic health disabilities, spectrum disorders, physical disabilities and other conditions that can require disability-related accommodations and services in the development of their program or goals; Experience with assistive technology, teaching and/or training, and experience in an educational or related service setting is preferable.
• Must have valid driver's license, motor vehicle liability insurance and personal injury insurance; or have a self-reliant source of transportation to conduct business on a daily basis
• Must be able to work extended hours or weekends during peak times and for special programs, projects, events.
• Must clear and maintain a favorable background investigation and clearance
• Must have strong self-judgment abilities and use discretion to complete work assignments. Initiative is frequently required to complete work assignments. Decisions are made regarding policy interpretation and individual work priorities;
• Must have knowledge of Section 504 of the Rehabilitations Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended (ADAAA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong public relations and customer service skills with an ability to implement diplomacy and discretion at all times; an ability to work effectively with communities across the university.
• Must have a high ethical standards and a strong sense of confidentiality; ability to prioritize and manage multiple deadlines; thrive in a complex work environment; displays solid problem solving and interpersonal skills; works well independently and as part of a team.
• Must have strong self-judgment abilities. Use discretion to complete work assignments. Initiative is frequently required to complete work assignments. Decisions are made regarding policy interpretation and individual work priorities
• Must have the ability to demonstrate a capacity for leadership, and the commitment to work collaboratively with a diverse and dynamic community.
• Display a strong commitment to the mission of the institution, and be able to articulate the value of a Marianist, Catholic education.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain systems for managing departmental resources, programs, services, and student participation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Working conditions are in an office environment and university campus setting. Must be able to move across the university campus to conduct day to day business.
• While performing this role, the employee will be regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk and hear, both in person and by telephone; and use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; and occasionally required to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently communicates with others using approved technological resources; must be able to exchange accurate information through designated systems within a timely manner.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.