DAS Accessible Formats Assistant

OSU Oregon State University•Corvallis, OR

About The Position

The Accessible Formats Assistant is a part-time student position in Disability Access Services at Oregon State University. The role promotes inclusive access by converting educational, administrative, and multimedia content into formats such as tactile graphics, braille, large print, audio, tagged PDFs, Word documents, ePub, and HTML that work with screen readers and other assistive technologies. The position also supports accessible-format requests, digital accessibility review, and adherence to accessibility standards and the department’s production processes. The work is conducted during the academic year, with summer employment negotiable depending on departmental needs. The expected schedule is 15–20 hours per week, up to 24 hours per week during academic terms; international students may work up to 20 hours per week during academic terms. The approved work window is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students on approved academic breaks may work up to 40 hours per week if eligible. Continued employment depends on satisfactory performance.

Requirements

Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study.
Must meet academic standing requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment.
Must meet the applicable minimum enrollment standard: high school students must be regularly enrolled in high school or a home-schooling program; undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students must take 6 credit hours per term; undergraduate international students must take 12 credit hours per term; graduate students admitted to Graduate School must take 5 credit hours per term; graduate international students admitted to Graduate School must take 9 credit hours per term. An approved reduced course load may apply to international students.
Maintain accurate records of requests, production timelines, and completed materials.
Ensure materials meet accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, and Section 508.
Assist in testing and reviewing digital content for accessibility compliance.
Provide basic support and training on accessible formats and tools to staff and students.
Follow DAS Alternative Format guidelines, workflows, and quality-control procedures.
Demonstrate proficiency at each stage of the DAS Alternative Formats training pathway before advancing.
Meet assigned project deadlines.
Communicate professionally and promptly with DAS staff about timelines, clarification needs, and progress.

Nice To Haves

Experience with document formatting or accessibility tools such as Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Word, Kurzweil, Duxbury, JAWS, or NVDA.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices.
Knowledge of braille transcription or certification, such as NLS certification.
Experience with learning management systems such as Canvas or Blackboard.
Basic HTML or web accessibility knowledge.
Experience working with individuals with disabilities.
Multilingual abilities.

Responsibilities

Convert documents, textbooks, and multimedia content into accessible formats, including tactile graphics, tagged PDFs, Word documents, ePub, braille, HTML, large print, and audio.
Collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to identify and fulfill accessible-format needs.
Use assistive technology tools and software, including screen readers, braille translation software, and OCR tools.
Maintain accurate records of requests, production timelines, and completed materials.
Ensure materials meet accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA, and Section 508.
Assist in testing and reviewing digital content for accessibility compliance.
Provide basic support and training on accessible formats and tools to staff and students.
Follow DAS Alternative Format guidelines, workflows, and quality-control procedures.
Progress through the DAS Alternative Formats training pathway by demonstrating proficiency at each stage before advancing.
Meet assigned deadlines for Alternative Formats projects.
Depending on team volume, work stage, and demonstrated proficiency, support workflow coordination, including training and onboarding newer team members, peer feedback and quality review, and distribution and tracking of assignments.
Communicate professionally and promptly with DAS staff about project timelines, clarification needs, and progress updates.