Assistive Technology Specialist

Virginia Commonwealth University•Richmond, VA

9d•$55,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistive Technology Specialist supports the Office of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (SAEO) in providing accommodations, assistive technology services, and accessible media to ensure equal access and promote student success at Virginia Commonwealth University. The Specialist carries a primary caseload of students seeking accommodations, determining eligibility for reasonable accommodations, providing follow-up support, and serving as a campus resource for faculty and staff on disability access. In addition to core case management responsibilities, this position coordinates key aspects of assistive technology services (including acquisition), captioning and interpreting support, accessible media production, and assistive technology workshops and training. The Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring that students with disabilities have timely access to the technology, materials, and supports required for full participation in academic programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Curriculum Design, Educational Technology, or related field; or relevant professional experience.
2+ years direct experience working with students with disabilities in an education setting.
2+ years direct experience using or supporting assistive technology needs for students with disabilities.
Experience with accessible media creation, document remediation, and digital accessibility practices.
Working knowledge of ADA, Section 504, 508, and WCAG standards, and accommodation processes.
Experience reading and interpreting psychological, psychiatric, medical, and educational documentation.
Experience creating and delivering presentations or training in virtual and in-person settings.
Demonstrated ability to determine eligibility for reasonable accommodations.
Experience working with students with physical, sensory, learning, psychological, and/or other disabilities.
Experience using or supporting users of assistive technology (hardware, software, or other tools).
Strong collaboration skills and ability to work with diverse faculty, staff, and students.
Demonstrated commitment to fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Curriculum Design, Educational Technology, Special Education, or related field.
3+ years direct experience in higher-education disability services.
3+ years direct experience using or supporting assistive technology solutions.
Experience with accessible media creation, document remediation, and digital accessibility practices.

Responsibilities

Review medical, psychological, educational, and other documentation to determine eligibility for accommodations.
Conduct intake interviews to identify barriers to full participation in curricular and co-curricular environments.
Provide guidance to students on initiating and maintaining services (e.g., intake forms, accommodation requests, Testing Access Center scheduling, faculty communication).
Advocate for students experiencing extenuating circumstances requiring additional support beyond standard accommodations.
Serve as a resource for faculty, staff, and advisors on accessibility, accommodations and disability-related concerns.
Maintain comprehensive records of student interactions, accommodation decisions, and communications.
Input case notes and documentation into the SAEO database system.
Manage a caseload of students requesting accommodations, including temporary injuries.
Meet 1:1 with students to assess access needs, recommend appropriate assistive technology solutions, and provide individualized training.
Support students using hardware, software, apps, and other AT tools (e.g., screen readers, speech-to-text, text-to-speech, note taking tools, alternative input devices).
Collaborate with SAEO leadership to develop training materials and resources to expand AT knowledge among students, faculty, and staff.
Assist with maintaining AT inventory, tracking usage, and supporting budget and contract needs.
Coordinate captioning and interpreting services for students requiring these accommodations.
Oversee notetaking support, including AT-based solutions and/or the notetaker hiring process.
Respond to student requests for accessible course materials by obtaining accessible versions from publishers or databases, or remediating documents to ensure compatibility with screen readers and other AT tools.
Convert course materials into accessible formats (e.g., tagged PDFs, structured Word documents, alt-text, accessible PowerPoints).
Collaborate with SAEO leadership to develop training materials that support faculty and staff in creating accessible course content.
Assist with SAEO workshops, trainings, and conferences for faculty, students, and campus partners.
Support and implement student-facing programs as assigned.
Provide occasional support to the Testing Access Center (e.g., proctoring, reading, scribing, finals support).
Serve on university committees as assigned.
Assist in the development and implementation of office programs and initiatives.
Represent SAEO at campus events, including occasional evening or weekend commitments.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Director or Supervisor.
Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.