Assistant Director, Student Accessibility Services

Emerson College • Boston, MA

36d

About The Position

Join our community and experience Emerson College! The Assistant Director, Student Accessibility Services position reports to the Director, Student Accessibility Services, and will support all students with disabilities in all programs at the college. In addition, this position will manage a caseload of students each semester and will ensure that the college is meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by conducting an interactive analysis of the context of accessibility and reasonable accommodations at the college. This is an important role that requires empathy for students with health, learning and psychological issues, as well as an exceptional ability to collaborate and communicate with a diverse population of the college community.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration, Disability Studies, Special Education, or a related field required.
• 3-5 years of experience working with a range of disabilities required.
• Experience managing high-legal-risk situations required.
• Experience of having complex, stressful conversations about medical and psychological problems required.
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail required.
• Knowledge of higher education and the college’s academic programs and policies.
• Knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act.
• Knowledge of a wide range of disabilities, associated symptoms, functional limitations, and how they relate to higher education accommodations and support.
• Knowledge of various assistive technologies and support services, including high tech and low tech solutions.
• Ability to handle sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong cognitive flexibility and the ability to provide a high level of support to non-traditional students.
• Self-starter with excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to follow through on tasks and requests.
• Ability to maintain multiple projects simultaneously and to prioritize tasks.
• Proficiency in using computer software and the ability to learn new software easily.
• Ability to collaborate and work with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

Responsibilities

• Work with a caseload of students with disabilities to manage their accommodations under the law and requirements of ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act in the area of housing, academics, and dining.
• Provide support to students when they are struggling and assist with advocating with campus partners such as faculty and other staff.
• Independently collect and review medical and neuropsychological documentation, conduct intake interviews according to a discipline-specific, legally mandated, individualized, interactive process, and analyze the nexus of information gathered in conjunction with the details of the student’s accommodation request.
• Use theoretical knowledge of the field and programmatic/policy knowledge from the college and use judgment to determine reasonable accommodations.
• Determine and implement accommodations unless further consultation with the Director is required.
• Meet with students as required, explaining expectations, policies, and procedures, persuading them to use ancillary support resources, and coaching them to communicate with faculty.
• Maintain timely, confidential, and detailed files of case notes.
• Maintain records by accurately listing accommodations and tracking data.
• Serve as a representative for Student Accessibility Services and students with disabilities on committees including, but not limited to, Post-Deposit Group, Self-Care Fair, and Orientation Planning.
• Provide guidance and training to other staff as required.
• Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Benefits

• In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members.
• We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week.
• Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible.
• Additional benefits such as life and disability coverage as well as commuter offerings are available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees