Director of Accessibility Services - Dean College

Dean College•Franklin, MA

46d•$78,000 - $82,000

About The Position

The Director of Accessibility Services is responsible for leading the development, coordination, and implementation of comprehensive accessibility services and reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. In this role, the Director ensures the College's compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAA), Section 504, and Section 508. The Director develops and maintains policies, procedures, programs, and strategic goals that support students' academic and non-academic success, including coordinating classroom relocations, housing adjustments, mobility supports, testing accommodations, and individualized accommodation plans. This includes reviewing and interpreting confidential documentation, such as neuropsychological and psycho-social assessments, and managing the Academic Testing Center and assistive technology support for students. The Director also collaborates with campus partners?including faculty, staff, administrators, and the Arch Learning Community?to promote accessibility, inclusion, and equitable practices. This includes providing training and professional development on disability-related issues, evaluating documentation for admissions and program eligibility, maintaining electronic records and reporting, and supervising the Accessibility Services Administrative Assistant, interns, and work-study students. Additionally, the Director supports co-curricular programs, such as the Engage Program, by developing curriculum and facilitating social skills sessions, ensuring students with disabilities have the guidance, resources, and support necessary to fully participate in all aspects of campus life.

Requirements

Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Learning Disabilities, Psychology, Special Education, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
Three to five years of experience implementing legally mandated accommodations in higher education.
Proficiency with assistive technologies (e.g., JAWS, ZoomText, Dragon, text-to-speech software) and document conversion tools (e.g., Adobe, OmniPage).
Strong understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and related regulations, with the ability to translate legislation into policy and practice.
Knowledge of assistive technology, including alternative text production and accessibility solutions for online and distance learning.
Demonstrated experience supporting students with disabilities in a higher education setting.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for building effective relationships with students, faculty, staff, and families.
Experience using accommodation management software

Responsibilities

Coordinate and implement accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Ensure institutional compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAA), Section 504, and Section 508.
Collaborate with campus partners to promote accessibility, inclusion, and equitable practices.
Review and interpret confidential documentation, including neuropsychological and psycho-social assessments.
Develop and maintain reasonable accommodation plans for students in both academic and non-academic settings.
Coordinate classroom relocations and other accessibility adjustments as needed.
Evaluate and determine the need for classroom, housing, and mobility accommodations.
Develop, implement, and update campus policies and procedures impacting students with disabilities.
Provide training and professional development for faculty, staff, and administrators to enhance awareness and understanding of accessibility and disability-related issues.
Prepare and maintain reports related to advising, testing, and accommodation implementation; collaborate with faculty and staff as appropriate.
Partner with the Arch Learning Community (a support program for students with diagnosed learning disabilities) to evaluate documentation and conduct applicant interviews.
Maintain an electronic record-keeping system for students with disabilities, including confidential files and aggregate data.
Manage the Academic Testing Center and coordinate with faculty regarding testing accommodations.
Assist students with the use of assistive technology and provide related instruction or tutorials.
Supervise the Accessibility Services Administrative Assistant, as well as interns and work-study students.
Support the Engage Program (a support program for students with adjustment and social functioning challenges) through curriculum development and facilitation of social skills sessions.