Job Description:

Position Title: Director – Office of Accessibility (OOA)

Reports To : Assistant Vice President Health & Wellness (Division of Student Life)

Position Description and Summary

The Director will provide leadership and strategic oversight for the Office of Accessibility. The Director will oversee the administration and implementation of student accommodations and accessibility needs across all three Fairfield campuses (North Benson, Bellarmine, and Austin, Tx locations). Essential functions include leading and supervising a multi-disciplinary team within a high volume, complex operation, facilitating equal access to University programs and activities, including but not limited to: curriculum, campus facilities, and programs in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, FERPA, and other federal and state laws pertaining to persons with disabilities. The Director will have primary oversight over the administration and implementation of accessibility and accommodations services related to students with disabilities including overseeing academic accommodations, exam accommodations, and campus life accommodations across all campuses.

Required Qualifications

• ​EDUCATION: Master’s Degree in Special Education, Disability Services, Social Work, Counseling or related field. Doctoral degree in Psychology/Counseling or a closely related field of study preferred.

• EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 5 years of experience working with students with disabilities preferably in a higher education setting, including 3 to 5 years supervisory experience, or combination of education, training and experience that would lead to competencies required for the successful performance of the position’s essential duties. Extensive experience with the interactive process of approving accommodations.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills are required

• Understanding and appreciation of the Jesuit mission and values within higher education.

Candidate must possess comprehensive knowledge of the laws, policies, and best practices applicable to the full range of disability and access services within higher education, such as ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Fair Housing Act, FERPA and Universal Design principles. Candidate will demonstrate the ability to work comfortably and flexibly within a fast-paced setting while managing competing demands. Candidate will also be able to successfully negotiate complex systems across various academic departments. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and management skills are required. The candidate will be expected to demonstrate sensitivity to- and understanding of -best practices around working with students from diverse backgrounds with multi-faceted accessibility needs.

Unusual Work Conditions: Some evening and weekend hours required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1) Develops/ implements strategic priorities to maintain and enhance the provision of high-quality accessibility and accommodation services for individuals registered with the Office of Accessibility, evaluate services to determine effectiveness and pursue opportunities for innovation

2) Manages student concerns and facilitates resolutions; works with appropriate campus partners to resolve ADA issues; collaborates with Assistant Vice President of Health & Wellness, Office of Equity, Student Life, Academic Departments, and Legal Counsel accordingly

3) Reviews and responds to student appeals of accommodations in accordance with the University’s grievance policies and procedures;

4) In partnership with the Assistant Vice President of Health & Wellness, establishes long-and short-range strategic planning for testing accommodations, academic and campus life accommodations, and academic accommodations

5) Provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for the Office of Accessibility, focusing on the provision and implementation of accessibility and accommodations services through the interactive accommodation request process

6) Creates and implements quality assurance assessment measures, manages the collection and analysis of data to identify trends and patterns; conceptualizes and implements improvements based on data and trends

7) Guides university processes and policies related to the provision of accessibility and accommodation services to ensure accessibility and accommodations compliance

8) Provides supervision for full-time staff. Evaluates the performance of direct reports, including setting yearly goals, priorities, and objectives, identifying professional development opportunities, modeling high standards for professionalism and service delivery.

10) Works collaboratively with Faculty and other campus partners in pursuit of the University’s mission of fostering radical hospitality by building awareness, knowledge, and skills related to disability via comprehensive trainings with the Center for Academic Excellence, Office of Equity, and Institutional DEI efforts

11) Serves as a resource for faculty and staff; provides training and education on complex issues related to the provision of services for students with disabilities; educate faculty and staff on compliance, federal and state regulations, and university policies as needed

12) In collaboration with other campus partners, Director leads, develops, and implements disability awareness strategies which promote campus accessibility, including policy development, implementation, evaluation, and relevant training

13) Serves as content expert to ensure that programs, resources and services are inclusive of students with disabilities and ensures that interactive process is implemented when evaluating the need of accommodations

14) Maintains current knowledge pertaining to federal and state regulations and policies affecting persons with disabilities, including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the American with Disabilities Act, including ADA standards and regulations

15) Participates in various University committees, including the Retention Committee, CARE Team, Health & Wellness Committee, Academic Planning and Representation Committee, in order to continue to advance accessibility and disability awareness.

16) Assist with ongoing analysis of technical standards within graduate programs and clinical field work placements. Offers trainings for Associate Deans and Directors of graduate programs regarding accessibility concerns and technical standards of program

17) Oversees the Office of Accessibility budget.

Required Hours: Regular office hours are 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday, excluding national and University-recognized holidays. Regular hours may vary occasionally in response to emergent needs.

Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Category:

Student Life - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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