Asst Director of Disability Support Services

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Full-time, 12-month position

The Assistant Director works with the Director of Disability Support Services (DSS) and the team to ensure that all divisional goals and objectives to support students with disabilities are realized. The Assistant Director will have a significant responsibility related to the management of the daily operations of the office, timely delivery of essential services to maintain compliance with federal mandates, and the handling of emergent student, faculty, and staff concerns/issues. The Assistant Director's duties include management of multiple systems of disability accommodations; oversight of special projects, student outreach, direct student support, student employee supervision, timely reporting, coordination of training, and other office activities. The Assistant Director will collaborate with other professional staff and employees within the DSS  to enhance the academic success and retention of students with disabilities. The Assistant Director will also represent the DSS on key campus committees. 

The Assistant Director is responsible for sustaining the work of the Disability Support Services office and, in the absence of the Director, must be able to assume the leadership responsibilities of the office.

General Responsibilities: 

• Supervise the delivery of essential services to students with disabilities, including reasonable accommodations to promote and support equal opportunity and access in all academic, residential, and co-curricular programs and services.

• Initiate targeted student outreach and communication to implement accommodations including but not limited to priority registration, reduced caseload, course substitutions, and accommodation letter notification. 

• Review and interpret disability-related documentation for all areas of disability; conduct intake interviews and meetings with prospective families and students; determine reasonable accommodations; maintain strict confidentiality and show professional discretion in all interactions; document interactions with prospective and registered students. 

• Collaborate with various offices, including Campus/Student Life, Counseling Services, TRIO, Health Services, and offices, to evaluate and determine appropriate accommodations and services for students with disabilities.

• Provides direct support services which include academic coaching and training on assistive technology; monitor and track the progress of DSS students in support or retention efforts; responds to and resolves student and faculty concerns; make referrals as needed.

• Represents the DSS at key campus recruitment and retention events including but not limited to Admitted Student Days, College Open House, and New Student Orientation. 

• Assists with supervising DSS testing services. Ensures office focus and attention to detail while scheduling and administering accommodated course exams and tests; adherence to DSS testing protocols, and enforcing institutional honor code policy. 

• Assists the Director with managing Peer Note-taking and E-text systems.  

• Under Director supervision, assists with supervision and implementation of documentation systems, data collection, service coordination, and reporting systems including student records and service planning. 

• Under Director supervision, assists in developing, reviewing, evaluating, and implementing all operational procedures and guidelines to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and professional standards and ethics. 

• Assists with creating marketing materials, including but not limited to office bulletin boards, flyers, web content, and DSS newsletter, and manages social media accounts. 

• Assists with recruitment and hiring of DSS student workers. Assists with onboarding, training, supervision, and evaluation of the activities of office workers, peer educators, and peer navigators. Assists the director with Handshake recruitment postings.

• Builds, fosters, and maintains intentional relationships with the college's departments and/or offices to ensure accurate dissemination of information, and coordination of academic student services

Academic/Advising Responsibilities:

• Serve as an advocate and resource for assigned students. Assists students in understanding and negotiating the academic rules and regulations that govern academic eligibility, progress, and successful degree completion. 

• Directs purposeful discussion with students to identify academic strengths and challenges, gauge adjustment to academic and social life on campus, and provide advice regarding viable pathways that may lead to enhanced student success. Assists students in developing a success plan and monitors plan progress and outcomes.

• Collaborates with the associate academic dean and departmental academic advisors to identify students whose behaviors align with early alerts. Act as a liaison between faculty, faculty advisors, and students to address issues as they arise. 

• Serve as a resource for faculty as they determine how to best implement approved accommodations including support in program or curricular modification, universal instructional design, learning strategies, adaptive/assistive technology and equipment, material in alternative media, note-taking, testing, and scribing.

• Assist with the development of reports, data analysis, and assessment of students’ first-year term-by-term engagement.

• Maintains awareness of current trends and best practices regarding student outreach and/or retention; assists with developing retention strategies, and works closely with college staff in implementing, evaluating, and improving retention strategies. 

Student Life responsibilities:

• Review and analyze accommodation requests for co-curricular accommodations; speak with students requesting housing accommodations; and make recommendations to the College/Campus Life regarding housing accommodations.

• Meet with students, families, and staff to resolve issues related to housing and dining accommodations, accessibility concerns, information about specific disabilities, and the rights and responsibilities of these constituencies relative to the mandates of relevant laws. 

• Provide consultation to college staff in Student Development, Dining Services, Human Resources and Facilities

• Work with and support Admissions on student outreach ensuring prospective students are informed of all accessibility services at the college.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education/special education, higher education administration, college student personnel, counseling, social work, psychology, or related field.

• 3 years of work experience in vocational rehabilitation, counseling, social work, higher education, or related fields; and experience working with individuals with disabilities. 

• Understanding of disability services in higher education.  

• A commitment to our mission of building a diverse and inclusive community and to the success of students of diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's in education/special education, higher education administration, college student personnel, counseling, social work, psychology, or related field.

• Demonstrated one year of supervisory experience.

• 2-3 years of work experience in academic/educational settings or vocational rehabilitation, counseling, social work, or related field.