Director of Educational Accessibility

State of Virginia•Norfolk, VA

52d

About The Position

The Director of Educational Accessibility is responsible for leading and managing the institution's efforts to ensure equal access to educational opportunities for all students, including those with disabilities. This role involves strategic planning, team management, budgeting, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Director trains the university community about disability experience and ensures that disability identity is included in all campus initiatives related to students.

Requirements

Master's degree in Education, Disability Studies, Education Administration, or a related field
Strong knowledge of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and AHEAD standards and best practices for student disability services.
Basic knowledge of digital accessibility and expertise in utilizing in educational settings.
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and community partners.
Proven ability to nurture and sustain a positive workplace environment.
Ability to conduct and interpret assessments to determine appropriate accommodations.
Considerable years of experience working with students with disabilities in a higher education setting, including supervisory experience.
Considerable experience in team management, budgeting, and strategic planning.
Considerable experience with assessment and diagnostic testing for students with disabilities.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate in related field.
Considerable experience with universal design for learning (UDL) principles.
Comprehensive background in supervision, data-informed decision-making, assessment, and program evaluation.

Responsibilities

Supervise, lead, mentor, manage a team of full-time and part-time accessibility professionals, graduate assistants, and student staff.
Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment
Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide professional development opportunities
Develop and manage the department's budget
Allocate resources effectively to support accessibility initiatives
Monitor expenditures and ensure fiscal responsibility
Develop and implement strategic plans to enhance educational accessibility
Set goals and objectives aligned with the division and university mission and vision
Evaluate and improve existing accessibility programs and services for students Ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and adhere to best practices set forth by the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).
Provide oversight and guidance for staff as they meet with students to discuss accommodation needs and develop individualized plans.
Provide additional support to staff by meeting with students and/or parents, families and/or supporting adults, as needed.
Develop outreach initiatives to raise awareness about accessibility resources for students
Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of accommodations
Advise students about academic policies, programs, and requirements
Design and implement programs to support students with disabilities
Serve as a liaison between students, faculty, and administration on accessibility issues.
Serve as an essential member of the University CARE Team
Maintain consistent communication with key campus partners to provide holistic support to students with disabilities
Provide guidance on services and accommodations for distance-learning students
Provide oversight on the use of assistive technology to reach office, division, and university goals aligned with supporting students with disabilities
Provide oversight and guidance to staff as they identity the appropriate accommodations for students who request accommodations
Refer students to campus and/or community resources as needed
Refer students to campus and/or community partners for testing and related accommodation needs
Collaborate with offices within SEES and across the University community to design and implement programs to assist students with disabilities
Prominent level of awareness of systems use to document students seeking accommodations and those being served by the Office of Educational Accessibility
Foster a culture of inclusion and awareness for students with disabilities across the institution
Communicate accessibility policies and procedures, as it pertains to student success, well-being, and retention, to the university community
Provide training and resources to faculty and staff on accessibility best practices for students as set forth by the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), legal requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Action, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Maintain a Faculty Advisory Committee to disperse information with academic partners across campus
Oversee maintenance of the Educational Accessibility's website
Distribute information in oral and written formats to University community and other relevant groups and individuals
Engage with prospective and current students, parents, families, supporting adults, faculty, and staff regarding services offered
Organize workshops and seminars to educate the broader university community about accessibility issues related to students
Participate in university Open House and other Admissions events local area high school events, and Discover Your Pride to provide information about the Office of Educational Accessibility to prospective students and their parents, families and/or supporting adults
Interact with university administration to advocate for students with disabilities
Maintain membership in professional organizations such as Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and local NETWORK.
Attend conferences and meetings as appropriate
Actively participate in community organizations to promote disability awareness for students on a college campus
Explore ways to provide optimal assistance to students with disabilities