Specialist, Disability Access Services
#RPM
The Disability Access Services Specialist is responsible for reviewing disability documentation to determine eligibility for accommodations, maintaining and reviewing current cases, providing academic and personal support and problem-solving assistance, helping students understand their disabilities and delivering formal training to faculty/staff. S/he is responsible for ensuring that services to students with documented disabilities are provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ensuring confidentiality of records. This position coordinates the day-to-day operations of the Disability Access Services Office.
• Conducts student intake interviews, analyzes documentation to determine eligibility for reasonable accommodations, and manages provisions of accommodations/services for students with disabilities.
• Assesses traditional accommodation needs, while also introducing students to new technologies and/or low tech strategies to aid in their independent management of personal coping strategies for lifelong learning. Provides individual advising and training to students supporting individual learning needs throughout their enrollment while at GTCC.
• Consults with all institutional departments and community partners to provide outreach training, recruiting, and continued program development for the college.
• Provides academic advising in a collaborative manner to insure a smooth transition for students from enrollment process, through graduation. Provides personal counseling services for students with disabilities to aid in their personal academic development, career development, and exploration of additional college needs and/or career opportunities. Provides students with print and/or web-based resources to continue their development.
• Assists with the development and implementation of uniform accessibility standards and policies and procedures for communications and information system technologies that are available campus-wide. Assists in developing and maintaining training material to aid in student retention, and self-development.
• Demonstrates and models the College employability skills: adaptability, communication, information processing, problem solving, responsibility and teamwork.
• Performs all duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Assessing effectiveness of accommodations/services and helping students to understand their proper application.
• Managing highly emotional interactions between students, faculty and college staff while ensuring appropriate application of established institutional policy and disability related laws.
• Balancing accessibility –related needs with available institutional resources while maintaining an accessible environment for students with disabilities.
• Daily: students re sharing information, instruction, discussion, advising
• Daily: faculty re giving and receiving instruction, discussion
• Daily: departmental staff re planning
• Daily: Student Support Services staff re giving and receiving instruction, sharing information, discussion
• Several times a week: other GTCC departments (for example, ITS and Library) re giving and receiving instruction, sharing information, discussion, advising
• Several times a week: medical professionals and community agencies/organizations re giving and receiving instruction, sharing information, discussion
• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, student development, special education or closely related field.
• 3 years counseling, social work, psychology, special education, and/or student development professional experience.
• 2 years of experience working with students with disabilities including autistic students and/or students with mental health disabilities.
• More than 3 years counseling, social work, psychology, special education, and student development professional experience.
• More than 2 years of experience working with students with disabilities including autistic students and/or students with mental health disabilities.
• Experience in a post-secondary educational environment
• General knowledge of the community college mission and philosophy.
• Exhibited skills in counseling techniques, interpersonal relationships, communications, administration, academic advising and educational planning.
• Ability to participate as a team member.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, faculty and the general public.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Insight into the needs of students with disabilities.
• Ability to understand and interpret school policy, and readily adjust to change.
• Basic computer literacy and knowledge of word processing.
• Ability to work a flexible work schedule will be determined by the supervisor as required by the workload. Registration, graduation, and other heavy work periods will require additional hours. Some weekend work may be required.
• Must be able to maneuver independently among offices, buildings, campus locations and off-site as required to complete job requirements.
• Ability to sit, stand, keyboard, and lift loads up to approximately 25 pounds).
• The following (compliance) training is required and must be completed within the first 30 days of hire with annual refresher training thereafter:
o Safety Related Training
o Ethics
o Safety/Shooter on Campus
o Personal Information Protection Training (PIP)
o Anti-Discrimination/Title IX & Harassment
o Other training may be required as determined applicable.
o Additionally, the following safety related training is required and must be completed within the first 6 months of hire. Please note, some training will need to be completed annually or as frequently as required by the Certifying Agency, as indicated below.
Blood borne Pathogens – Annually
Emergency Action Plans\Emergency Equipment (incl. Fire Extinguisher) – Annually
E-Vac Chair – Annually
• Work requires mostly sitting with some walking or standing.
• Work requires carrying objects or loads of 20 pounds or less.
• Rare (less than 15%) exposure to hazardous chemicals, filth, fumes, adverse weather, or personal health and safety risks.