Assistant Director, Student Accommodation Services (WIT)

Position Title: Assistant Director, Student Accommodation Services (WIT)

Department: University Diversity & Inclusion

Advertised Pay: Competitive

Campus Location: Washburn University

The screening committee will review all eligible applications submitted by July 25, 2023

Position Summary: The Assistant Director of Student Accommodation Services collaborates with the Washburn University Institute of Technology (WIT) campus community to establish an accessible learning environment at WIT. This position ensures that students who disclose disabilities are afforded all of the legal rights and protections as mandated in the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The primary focus of this position will be promoting access to the curriculum, campus facilities, and related educational opportunities for students with disabilities.

This position works with students, families/supporters, and healthcare providers to assist students seeking disability-related accommodations. In addition, they work to determine eligibility for accommodations and the appropriate accommodations. Once determined, will coordinate with instructors and other WIT staff and offices to ensure access to university programs and services for students with disabilities.

The Assistant Director of Student Accommodation Services (WIT) serves as a resource and advocate for students with disabilities while promoting independence and responsibility. They will manage the WIT caseload including students requesting accommodations from the WIT Testing Center. This position provides training and development to WIT Employees on establishing an accessible learning environment and works closely with Washburn University Student Accommodation Services to best align policies, processes, and procedures.

Essential Functions:
• Lead the vision, planning, and development of accommodations services for WIT students.
• Manage a caseload of students who disclose a disability and request reasonable accommodations. Conduct Intake and evaluation of academic and physical accommodation requests. Review documentation to determine eligibility for accessibility services.
• Make decisions regarding eligibility for accommodations (academic and non-academic) per applicable laws, and technical standards, and assist in addressing issues regarding reports of discrimination per those laws.
• Evaluate supporting documents and requests, including qualifications of medical providers, the reasonableness of the request, assess the impact of disability on learning/education, and major life activities, and determine which if any reasonable accommodations may apply.
• Collaborate and communicate with instructors to implement accommodations. Make any necessary arrangements with other departments, and instruct students on accessing any reasonable accommodations. Monitor, evaluate, and adjust accommodations when needed.
• Manage testing and exams. Assure student services and supports for distraction-reduced testing environments. Protest the integrity of exams and assure timely receipt and delivery of exams.
• Advise instructors, students and staff regarding best practices and University policy. Communicate the purpose and nature of academic and non-academic accommodations. Communicate with prospective students via individual meetings and group programs to share information on policies, eligibility, determinations of services/accommodations, advise on disability issues, and teach self- advocacy skills.
• Promote and support a culture of acceptance and inclusion for students with disabilities. Lead training and development for WIT areas to create an inclusive environment for students with disabilities.
• Lead outreach efforts in the campus community. Including participation in New Student Orientation, Campus Programming and other WIT events.
• Collaborate with WIT and University staff to develop programming for events, education, and training which may include themes such as: (1) social and disability justice, (2) disability culture and awareness months, (3) disability access training events.
• Research, evaluate, recommend and maintain hardware and software to support accommodations, accessibility, and inclusion. Develop and maintain a working knowledge of current assistive technologies.
• Chair campus-wide committees and initiatives focusing on student success and support.
• Periodically assess student needs for services to understand current issues facing students with disabilities.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean of Student Services to research and draft policy, plan and revise services to help the Office provide the highest level and quality of service possible.
• Perform additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, social services or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience working with students with disabilities.
• Proven familiarity with and sensitivity to issues of accessibility, bias, and inclusion related to disabilities, either through personal or professional experience.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, FERPA and other appropriate laws about higher education and disabilities.
• Proven experience reviewing medical documentation in support of academic and non-academic accommodation requests.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and within a team, and with diverse, multicultural constituencies.
• Proven effective communication, organizational and attention to detail skills.
• Demonstrated effective ability to take the initiative and complete tasks with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated proficient skills in Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to complete multiple tasks and meet deadlines in an environment of frequent interruptions changing and competing priorities.
• Proven ability to appropriately manage sensitive and confidential issues requiring independent judgment and strict discretion and maintaining the confidentiality of privileged information.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Education, Rehabilitation, Psychology, Higher Education, Student Personnel, Disability Studies or relevant field required.
• Experience working with students with disabilities in higher education.
• Working knowledge of digital accessibility and assistive technology tools.
• Experience working with adult learners

Full time Exempt Mon-Fri
Background Check Required