ACCESS COORDINATOR
Req #: | 173819 |
Department: | DISABILITY RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS |
Job Location: | Seattle Campus |
Posting Date: | 11/06/2019 |
Closing Info: | Open Until Filled |
Salary: | Salary is commensurate with education and experience. |
Shift: | First Shift |
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for six consecutive years.
Disability Resources for Students (DRS), Seattle campus, is a unit within the Division of Student Life. The DRS office has been dedicated to ensuring the access and inclusion of students with disabilities on the Seattle campus enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, professional, Evening Degree and Access programs for over 40 years. Currently, approximately 3,000 students with either temporary or permanent physical, health, learning, sensory, or psychological disabilities partner with our office to establish services and accommodations for their access and inclusion on our campus.
DRS works with each student individually to establish academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services, more frequently referred to as academic accommodations. The purpose of these accommodations is the elimination of environmental barriers impacting the student’s equitable access to the campus facilities, programs, and activities.
DRS has an outstanding opportunity for an Access Coordinator.
The core functions of the DRS office:
•Partner with students with disabilities to establish services and accommodations for their access and inclusion on campus.
•Manage, coordinate, implement and evaluate accommodation/service programs.
•Serve as a resource to students/faculty/staff to ensure effective provision of services.
•Provide educational and resource support to the campus community to increase awareness regarding how to create and sustain access and inclusion for students with disabilities in all aspects of the university.
•Provide resources and referrals to the campus community, prospective students and their families.
The Access Coordinator works directly with enrolled students with disabilities to determine eligibility for academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services, works to implement and coordinate these services and monitors their effectiveness for the student, including ensuring that the accommodations are provided by the University faculty and staff. The Access Coordinator is responsible for the understanding, applying and interpreting office and University policies and procedures and applicable State and Federal rules, regulations and laws, e.g., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act; assisting with the hiring, training and supervising of designated office staff; promoting disability awareness and advocacy in the campus community; providing technical and educational assistance to faculty, staff and students to ensure effective accommodation and equal access and inclusion for students with disabilities to include advising on the use of universal design concepts and principles. The Access Coordinator will also serve on campus committees and assist with special projects as requested by the Director.
Responsibilities
•Establish eligibility for services and determine reasonable and effective academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services for students with temporary or permanent disabilities through an interactive process involving the student, documentation from the student’s healthcare provider and, when necessary, consultation with faculty and staff.
•Provide technical and instructional assistance and support for faculty, staff, administration and students working with students with disabilities.
•Provide problem-solving, advocacy and mediation for students with disabilities.
•Manage the coordination and implementation of academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services such as but not limited to classroom and lecture access, sign language interpreting/speech to text services and disability parking.
•Understand and appropriately apply, interpret and explain office and University policies and procedures and State and Federal rules, regulations and laws (e.g., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
•Serve as liaison with University departments, agents, and promoters and assist with preparation of programming contracts and agreements.
•Maintain accurate and detailed student records and accommodation/service program records in accordance with office and University policies and procedures.
•Create, foster and maintain collaborative working relationships with faculty, staff, administration and students.
•Assist prospective students, their families, high school counselors and community college advisers in understanding transition issues for students with disabilities from high school or community college and the process for requesting services at the university.
•Remain current on research and legal activity in the field and national trends to guide policy/procedure development/revision and recommend improvements in the delivery of services for the office and more broadly across the campus.
•Recruit, hire, train and supervise volunteer and/or paid student staff responsible for assisting with service provision to students with disabilities.
•Participate and provide leadership in office and campus-wide strategic planning efforts, programming, advising and policy development pertaining to access issues and inclusion for students with disabilities.
•Assist in developing and updating office policies and procedures.
•Contribute to the implementation of assessment tools for the office to obtain feedback on the quality and effectiveness of service provision to students, faculty and staff.
•Promote and facilitate disability awareness, access and inclusion through training, advocacy and accommodations.
•Assist in advising the campus community as appropriate on the use and implementation of universal design concepts and principles; identifying barriers to access and inclusion and providing counsel on how to build a universally accessible environment.
•Provide resource and referral information to the campus community and general public, which includes but is not limited to information on disabilities, information to promote disability awareness, information about the services of the office and information about community-based services available for people with disabilities.
•Build and maintain good working relationships with off-campus disability community/service agencies.
•Serve on campus committees as requested by the Director or Associate Director.
•Assist in other duties and complete special projects at the direction of the Director.
As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.
Qualifications
•Bachelor's degree in Education, Counseling, Social Work, Rehabilitation, or related field.
•Two to three years professional experience in the field working with students with disabilities in higher education
•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;
•Sensitivity and competency in working with a diverse population
•Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills
•Ability to direct and organize work of self and others
•Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to work collaboratively with others
•Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
•Strong computer skills to include working with databases, spreadsheets and word processing
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except where there are legal requirements such as license/certification/registration.
Desirable
•Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Special Education, Rehabilitation, or related field.
•Experience advising student groups and/or student activities in higher education setting and the application of student development theory
•Knowledge of universal design and social model of disability
•Fluency in American Sign Language
•Knowledge of assistive technologies for people with disabilities
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.
The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 / 206-543-6452 (tty) or dso@uw.edu.