Accessibility Specialist

Summary:

Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness and Success (IES) seeks an Accessibility Specialist for its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) / Accessibility services unit. Reporting to the ADA / 504 Administrator, the Accessibility Specialist will provide accessibility services to students, faculty, employees, candidates, and key stakeholders, oftentimes acting as the Facilities’ first point of contact in the physical accessibility process. They will play a pivotal role in responding to equal access in our physical spaces, while also consulting with cross-functional partners to ensure consistent support is provided in compliance with state and federal requirements. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and organizational skills, superior attention to detail, and be a self-starter with strong initiative while maintaining a high level of confidentiality in a fast-paced environment; they will also contribute to creating a more equitable and inclusive learning and working environment at VCU. Because VCU is a vibrant public, urban university, the Accessibility Specialist will bring innovation, inclusive intelligence and an equity mindset in fostering accessibility and making it a priority. This will make us an accessible campus champion and reinforce our mission and focus for transformative success.

Mission

At VCU, we Make it Real through learning, research, creativity, service and discovery — the hallmarks of the VCU experience. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work. IES advances VCU’s commitment to the success and wellbeing of its faculty, staff, students, team members, patients and surrounding communities. From its work in the areas of equal opportunity and outreach to collective urban and regional impact, IES translates philosophy into practice to achieve education and health equity for all.

Chief Purpose of Position:

Under the direction of the ADA / 504 Administrator, the Accessibility Specialist provides review, audit, accessibility analysis and coordination of physical spaces to make them accessible to members of our diverse community. Provides data, insight and reports on physical spaces. Educates campus on accessibility and facilitates compliance with accessibility related federal, state, and local regulations and University policies. Performs administrative and record-keeping functions to support the office, including management of data in the primary Maxient database and shared drive, as directed by the ADA/ 504 Administrator.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Works with Facilities Management, Campus Coordinators and Planning and Design to determine the need for review and assessment of physical accessibility on campus, which entails walking through the campus and reviewing construction sites and other spread-out locations.

Assists the ADA Coordinator in monitoring and reporting aspects of data tracking and budgeting related to accessibility services on all VCU local campuses.Conducts training on accessibility topics for employees, supervisors, HR, and other university audiences.

Assists individuals with resolving issues unique and/or common to individuals with disabilities; interfaces with campus constituencies to ensure individuals gain equitable access to resources.

Maintains records of outreach to Accessibility Services; compiles reports and analyzes data related to accessibility, compliance, and program efficacy.

Assist in conducting accessibility audits for both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses.

Produces a site inspection narrative to document access barriers and compliance.

Oversees and documents ADA activities from inception to completion, on all new and existing sites under construction or maintenance to inform the VCU community about accessibility issues.

Maintains systematic electronic reporting of ADA modifications to be used for reporting purposes.

Provides leadership as a member of the Web Accessibility and Physical Accessibility workgroup.

Maintains confidentiality of university and student records, as applicable.

Participates in development of strategic initiatives and ongoing assessment of accessibility services.

Creates Accessibility accommodation cases in the Maxient database and updates relevant databases as needed, and complies with relevant record keeping and management of documentation.

Calendars relevant accessibility dates and projects for follow up, review and completion.

Defines success metrics and validates the impact of equal access and accessibility solutions.

Keeps abreast of emerging technology, accessibility laws, regulations, and guidelines, best practices, and tools for developing accessible training.

Performs other duties and responsibilities as required, assigned, or requested.

Minimum Hiring Standards:

- Bachelor's degree in a directly related field; at least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

- Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that is above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

- Knowledge and understanding of ADA accessibility regulations, guidelines, and standards as applicable to an academic and/or workplace setting.

- Knowledge and understanding of HIPAA and related Federal and State privacy laws and regulations.

- Strong listening, interpersonal and communication skills.

- Ability to deliver effective presentations to large and small audiences.

- Ability to use independent judgment to manage and communicate on accessibility issues.

- Skilled in facilitating problem-solving with regarding equal access and accessibility priorities.

- Working experience in higher education (2-3 years is strongly desired), preferably with experience working with persons with disabilities, with an emphasis on Autism Spectrum Disorder and physical disabilities.

- Demonstrated intercultural competence, and commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility practices.

- Effective collaboration with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

- Ability to communicate with and relate to individuals of diverse disabilities and backgrounds.

- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

- Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare accurate and meaningful reports.

- Ability to build and maintain recordkeeping within databases such as Maxient.

- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.

Salary Range: $51,000-$56,000

Slotting: Specialist 1, Legal, Audit, and Compliance



Position Details:

Department: Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness and Success
Employment Type: University FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt