Accessibility Services Specialist

Accessibility Services Specialist

This position is an on-campus, full-time, 12-month appointment based in Champaign, Illinois covered by the Professional Support Staff (PSS) Union with an annual salary of $55,166.69.

Application Close Date/Time: Wednesday, February 26th, at 6PM CT

The Accessibility Services Specialist is responsible for working with and coordinating accommodations for students and visitors who self-identify as having disabilities in compliance with college policy, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the ADA. The Accessibility Services Specialist also provides academic supports to new and continuing students registered with the department; as well as serves as a consultant to the college community in regard to accommodations/modifications needed for people with disabilities who utilize the campus and its programs.

Applicants must submit:

• An online employment application
  
• Cover letter
  
• Resume or CV
  

Essential Job Functions:

Student Accommodations

• Analyze psychoeducational, psychological, and case study reports to determine reasonable accommodations under ADA.
  
• Advise a case load of students with disabilities on appropriate accommodations, strategies for success in the college environment, working with instructors, and campus and community supports.
  
• Facilitate and provide disability related accommodations and services for all college programs including degree and certificate programs, individual classes, Adult Education, Early College, Community Education, and summer camps and community events such as art gallery, planetarium, commencement, and sports events.
  
• Implement reasonable accommodations under ADA.
  
• Research, evaluate, and recommend appropriate auxiliary aids based on student need.
  
• Serve as a resource and consultant for faculty and staff to ensure access to programs and services for prospective and current students who self-identify with Accessibility Services.
  
• Meet with faculty to assess the needs of students based on the requirements of each individual course.
  
• Meet with students and parents to address sensitive and confidential issues regarding their disability and to resolve concerns.
  
• Provide basic training for students on proper use of assistive technology and work with Campus Technologies for troubleshooting adaptive equipment.
  
• Conduct personal follow-up meetings with new and returning students to determine their acclimation to Parkland College.
  
• Attend monthly Counseling and Advising forums to stay abreast of program and course updates.
  
• Oversee classroom assisting schedule to ensure compliance with student accommodations.
  
• Assist in transfer transitioning and additional program needs, which may include exploring different institutional, state, and international regulations and accommodations options.
  

Remediation of concerns

• Problem-solve and mediate between faculty and student to resolve complaints.
  
• Work with vendors to obtain accessibility materials and auxiliary aids.
  

Office responsibilities

• Hire and supervise hourly staff including but not limited to sign language interpreters, CART providers, lab aides to work in the classroom with students' office assistants, and student workers.
  
• Train staff.
  
• Assist in office operations when needed such as covering front desk needs.
  
• Serve as a test reader when needed.
  
• Serve as a classroom assistant when needed.
  
• Work with campus tech to obtain data on registered students and services for monitoring caseload and grant requirements.
  
• Assist in the development of surveys needed for data collection.
  

Accessibility enhancements

• Maintain a working knowledge of current disability law and best practices by participating in continuing education opportunities, staying abreast of ADA updates and monitoring Office of Civil Rights and other offices.
  
• Coordinate the research and implementation of emerging assistive technology on an ongoing basis through collaborations with Campus Technologies and Professional Development and Instructional Technology departments.
  
• Active participation in disability related professional organizations to keep abreast of current best practices.
  
• Assist in monitoring alignment of Parkland policies and procedures with disability laws, regulations, and best practices and make recommendations for policy and procedure revisions and development.
  
• Assist in analysis of accessibility strengths and weaknesses for the campus and help prioritize goals to enhance accessibility.
  
• Participate in college committees/organizational units to make recommendations on materials and accessibility best practices.
  

Community responsibilities

• Assess the needs of visitors who self-identify to provide access to facilities and programs.
  
• Administer placement tests and interpret placement scores for new students.
  
• Administer state board exams for participants needing accommodations.
  
• Coordinate the A Day at Parkland event which includes speaking to students, parents, counselors, and representatives from area high schools.
  
• Act as a liaison with high school staff to facilitate college courses for students with disabilities.
  
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Requirements:

• Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Social Work/Mental Health Counseling or Social Work.
  
• One (1) year of demonstrated experience working with students with disabilities.
  
• Ability to handle confidential materials judiciously.
  
• Working knowledge of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and ADA, ADAA and all other legislation.
  
• Writing and mathematical abilities to perform essential functions of the position, including excellent use of English grammar.
  
• Proficiency in current computer technologies and the ability to learn new systems as technology changes.
  
• Excellent organizational and communication skills as demonstrated by a writing sample if interviewed.
  
• Ability to work with limited supervision.
  
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and guidelines (such as WCAG, WAI, Section 508, ARIA); accessibility auditing and testing tools and strategies including but not limited to VPAT and WCAG 2.0 validation toolsets.
  
• Must successfully pass a criminal background check with fingerprinting.
  
• In an effort to comply with SURS return-to-work restrictions for employers (40 ILCS 5/15-139.5), candidates for employment at Parkland College must either not be a SURS annuitant or must be willing to suspend his/her SURS annuity upon employment. This applies to all SURS annuitants except those receiving their annuity under either the Self-Managed Plan (SMP) or by lump sum payment.

Robust benefits, including medical insurance with no monthly premiums, dental, life, disability, retirement plans, flexible spending, dependent care, EAP, work/life balance with generous paid time off, and tuition waiver. More information on the benefits package may be found online at our Benefits page.

Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://www.parkland.edu/careers will not be considered.

Please monitor your email, including spam or junk mail folders, for future correspondence from Parkland College Human Resources.
For further information on the application process, please contact Parkland College Human Resources at 217-351-2220.

Applicants with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process.

Requests may be submitted by contacting Human Resources at 217-351-2220 or by emailing hr@parkland.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer