Senior Disability Access Services Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.  

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

Under the direction of the AVP for Wellness, the Senior DAS Specialist will advise, counsel, and help students with disabilities become more effective learners with respect for all of the challenges they bring. The Senior DAS Specialist plays an essential role in reducing barriers and ensuring equitable access to the College’s academic programs and to academic and related resources for students with disabilities. This position leads the day-to-day operations of DAS and ensures policies and procedures are in place to meet student needs and ensure ADA compliance. The Senior DAS Specialist provides a warm, welcoming on-campus presence to students seeking support for new and continuing accommodations and communicates with faculty and staff on matters concerning Disability Access Services at Whitman. 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

The duties and priorities of this position may shift throughout the year based on the academic calendar. Workload and focus areas vary between the academic year and summer months, with certain responsibilities intensifying or changing depending on the College’s operational needs and student presence on campus.

Determining Student Accommodations (60%) 

• Meet with current students seeking accommodations, working with them through the process of applying or renewing or modifying accommodation requests, including intake meetings, acquiring and evaluating documentation, identifying and implementing accommodations as appropriate, and providing assistive technology support.   
• Meet with prospective students and families, assisting with arrangement of disability support services for incoming and returning students, evaluating documentation, identifying and implementing accommodations as appropriate, and providing assistive technology support.
• Adhere to Whitman DAS protocols for obtaining and uploading documentation to support accommodations and for recording notes about the interactive process with students in the Accommodate system.
• Ensure that accommodations decisions are made in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008. 
• Maintain awareness of and fulfill responsibilities related to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
• Coordinate acquisition and accuracy of alternative format texts, and work with students and faculty to ensure all alternative texts are in a readable and/or audible format for the student.
• In collaboration with the Director of DAS, coordinate, maintain, and troubleshoot the inventory of assistive technology available for students with disabilities, including training students with disabilities on how to use specific equipment. Stay abreast of emerging technology for potential acquisition.
• Exercise sound judgment in determining when accommodation concerns can be resolved independently and when they require escalation or consultation. 

DAS Liaison (20%)

• Serve as campus liaison and point of contact for DAS.
• Serve as the point of contact for complex cases. 
• Convene case consultation meetings. 
• Serve as an on-campus presence and resource, and be available virtually, as needed, by students. 
• Collaborate with campus stakeholders to ensure accessibility of programs and services for students.  
• Serve as a trusted resource for faculty, staff, and students who have questions about student accommodations.
• Participate in planning and presenting faculty and staff professional development about disabilities and disability student services.  
• Advocate for disability awareness as an essential part of DEIA inclusion efforts.
• Serve as  DAS  designee when requested on CARE Team, Campus Accessibility Committee, Housing and Dietary Accommodations Team, and other constituencies. 
• Provide support to the Testing Coordinator for accommodated testing, including advising as needed about the proper application of accommodations, the academic integrity of testing, and communication with faculty and students. 
• Provide individualized academic coaching and mentoring for students with disabilities (with an emphasis on first-year students)

Operational Leadership & Continuous Improvement (10%)

• Lead the day-to-day operations of DAS, ensuring services are responsive to student needs and aligned with institutional priorities.
• Develop and facilitate faculty and staff training as needed. 
• Implement research and assessment-based practices to increase service delivery and programming efficiency and effectiveness.
• Regularly review policy, procedures and practices to identify opportunities for improvement and recommend updates that enhance service delivery, accessibility and effectiveness.  

Evolving Responsibilities (10%) 

• Contribute to additional DAS projects and initiatives, adapting to evolving priorities and organizational needs.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to stay current on DAS best practices, ADA and Section 504 compliance, and DEIA initiatives, applying new knowledge to enhance DAS programs and services.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• An understanding of and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Knowledge and understanding of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the ADA and other pertinent federal and state laws that provide for an accessible higher education experience for disabled students.
• Commitment to cultivating a culture of equity, inclusion, belonging, and opportunity that respects the  individual strengths, views, and experiences of students and colleagues.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in determining when accommodation concerns can be resolved independently and when they require escalation or consultation. 
• Experience with, or strong interest in, working with neurodiverse students.
• Knowledge of reading disability documentation and coordinating appropriate accommodations.
• Knowledge of assistive technology and alternative format textbooks.
• Excellent listening and communication skills.
• Ability to work well as part of a team.
• Ability to interact constructively and positively with faculty and with staff in other offices across the campus (i.e., the Counseling Center, Dean of Students, Housing & Residence Life, and Library, etc.).

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Experience working with people with concussions.
• Familiarity with UDL (Universal Design for Learning).
• Background in mental health support.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree in a field relating to higher education, counseling, student personnel, or related field.  
• Experience supporting and mentoring diverse college students in an educational setting is required, preferably a rigorous academic environment in higher education.  
• 3+  years of experience providing direct academic support and advising services to students with disabilities and students from diverse backgrounds.
• OR a combination of relevant education, training, and experience. 

Whitman College values diverse pathways to acquiring skills and knowledge and encourages applicants to demonstrate how their background aligns with the role.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Master’s degree in a field relating to higher education, counseling, or student personnel.  

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS 

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Benefit offerings and eligibility described reflect current offerings and may be subject to change in accordance with College policies and plan documents. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.

Tuition Remission

Employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester.

Employee Assistance Program

Relocation assistance for eligible employees. 

Learn more about benefits eligibility here. 

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Priority application review will begin October 9, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. 

START DATE

November 2026