If you are interested in this position, complete the online application profile at: https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/hr!
Position Summary:
The mission of Pierce College is to create quality educational opportunities to a diverse community of learners to thrive in an evolving world.
The Access & Disability Services (ADS) District Accommodation Specialist is positioned within Student Services, District Learning and Student Success that focuses on closing college access gaps, increasing persistence, degree completion, and college/university enrollment for prospective and enrolled students from minoritized and marginalized backgrounds.
This ADS Accommodation Specialist supports the ADS Director in providing leadership, operational management, and supervision of districtwide ADS offices and staff for Fort Steilacoom, Puyallup and Joint Based Lewis-McChord. This position will help ADS staff create an empowering environment and creates equitable services for all students with disabilities with a prioritized focus on Black and Brown students, single parents, and economically under-resourced students with disabilities.
The ADS Accommodation Specialist promotes learning around disability awareness, advocacy, history, and engagement districtwide. Approximately 80% of this position will be dedicated to providing the appropriate accommodations and authorizes reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids and services for students on a case-by-case basis. This position will collaborate with the ADS Director to receive approval on accommodation decisions. The Accommodation Specialist consults with and advises students with disabilities, reviews documentation, develops reasonable accommodations with director oversight, and oversees the delivery of access services to ADS students. They serve as a district-wide resource specialist in the development of accommodations and academic adjustments for this population, providing on-going consultation and problem-solving assistance to faculty and staff.
The ADS Accommodation Specialist will also provide assistive technology supports and support Alternative Testing needs such as proctoring exams. This position should be familiar in matters relating to assistive technology, technological accessibility, and technology accessibility standards, policy and law for Pierce College District. This position provides consultative support to faculty, staff, and students by evaluating technological requirements, providing interventions and solutions for accessing course information, technologies, and resources. This position will work with the ADS Director, the Program Specialist 3, and the ADS Program Coordinator to coordinate the operations proper assistive technology students are approved for. They will also assist the Program Specialist 3 and the Program Coordinator in providing Alternative Testing supports to approved students. This may be checking students in and out for exams, live proctoring, acting as a Reader or Scribe, and returning completed materials to the proper locations.
This position also serves as a point of contact with student services offices such as counseling, academic advising/success couches, Running Start, Writing and Tutoring P.A.S.S. Center, TRIO SSS, Student Life, and Veterans Resource Office. This position is also a point of contact with faculty and academic services such as ELAD and Basic Education for Adults (BEdA). The Accommodation Specialist serves on departmental, division, and college committees and assists with developing program policies and procedures. This position will also help staff to develop and present informational workshops to the district at large.
This position will assist the Director, the Program Specialist 3 and Program Coordinator in oversight of the following positions: Part-time (hourly, contracted) sign language interpreters, CART transcribers, readers, scribes, note takers, work-study students, student employees, and other personnel required to implement student accommodation plans.
This is a district level position. The Accommodation Specialist is expected to spend time at primarily at the Puyallup campus, and secondarily at the Fort Steilacoom and JBLM campuses.
Essential Functions:
Student Academic Adjustment, Auxiliary Aids and Services
Serve as a primary contact for students with disabilities.
Evaluate the needs of students with disabilities for educational access and accommodation with ADS Director oversight and facilitate the delivery of the appropriate accommodations to meet student needs.
Provide assistance with alternative testing accommodations and proctoring of ADS students throughout the year (may include: midterm and final exam support, reading and scribing for exams, etc.)
Provide coaching and support to foster independence and self-advocacy and ability to refer students to other support services such as tutoring, counseling, and advising.
Provide problem-solving, advocacy, and mediation for students with disabilities
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, policies, and professional standards related to accommodations and maintain all necessary documentation.
Recommend service providers, equipment, and instruction/support service methods for students requiring specialized or customized accommodations.
Consult with staff, faculty, and community resource personnel concerning support in the best interest of students with disabilities with a view towards educational completion.
Collaborate across a variety of campus departments and committees to provide disability awareness trainings for faculty, staff, and students.
Functions as a resource for staff and faculty throughout the college by providing training, technical assistance, and guidance on how to proactively ensure equal access for students through academic accommodations.
Takes a leadership role in developing programs and/or serving specific student populations. Develop intersectional services for specific student disability populations (for example: veterans, undocumented students, Native American Students, LGBTQ2S+, etc.)
Maintain routine correspondence with students, accommodation providers, and staff.
Attend conferences and meetings, in and out of state, appropriate to the function of the position.
Facilitate front office operations as needed, e.g., greet visitors, respond to in-person and telephone inquiries, schedule testing or appointments, problem solve, assist with record keeping, and provide backup assistance to other staff, as needed.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Leadership, Administration & Record Management
Work with the ADS Director to develop, assess, and maintain departmental standards for the independent determination of appropriate and reasonable accommodations and/or services.
Work with the ADS Director to provide leadership for process improvements, identifying possible efficiencies, and improving workflow.
Evaluate disability documentation, develop academic adjustments and accommodation plans, and oversee implementation of plans.
Establish and maintain accurate records and files of alternate format program and ADS equipment; establish and maintain appropriate security procedures to minimize loss of equipment and supplies; design and maintain database for programs. Maintain the ADS alternate format library of recorded and electronically converted materials per ADS records retention cycle.
Regularly review ADS policies and procedures and make recommendations for modifications to improve services. Develop and recommend new policies and procedures with Director oversight, to ensure the effective and timely provision of accommodation and services within assigned programs of responsibility.
Prepare a quarterly report for the ADS Director for each assigned accommodation/service program to include information on faculty/student usage, summary of programs/services efforts, budget information and tracking, and other pertinent or requested information.
Work with the ADS Director to ensure department operations, programs, and services align with the District Learning and Student Success and overall Student Services district division outcomes.
Interview, hire, train, and supervise ADS work-study students, assign and direct work, set expectations, instruct, coach, identify training needs, and evaluate job performance in accordance with College policies and procedures based on employee type.
Work with the ADS Director to ensure the accuracy of ADS records (employment, student, fiscal) in accordance with federal, state and college requirements.
Work with the ADS Director to develop, modify and update ADS policies and procedures to meet current federal and state compliance requirements.
Provide technical and educational assistance and support to faculty, staff and students working with accessible instructional materials, adaptive technology as well as other alternative media devices.
Supervise and perform conversions of electronic and physical documents, including STEM material into various for students with print access disabilities. Use specialized software to convert files, proofread documents in a variety of subjects for conversion errors, create written descriptions of graphical elements as needed, and perform quality control on electronic documents before the distribution of materials.
District Collaboration & Engagement
Assist the ADS Director in collaborating with Student Success Services Deans, Directors, and closely with District Learning and Student Success staff to coordinate pathways of access, retention, and completion of eligible ADS students who are new or enrolled in college equity empowerment programs for Black and Brown students and all marginalized populations such as into TRIO Student Support Services, ASPIRE/AANAPISI, James Baldwin Scholars, and/or Workforce programs.
Work with ADS staff to develop and coordinate engagement programs, training for students, staff, faculty, and the public to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of accommodations/services according to current research, national standards, and internal program assessment.
Create, foster, and maintain collaborative working relationships with faculty, staff, administration, and students.
Cultivate and maintain collaborative contact with local, county, and state resources that interface with people with disabilities in order to provide resources and referrals to support students.
Provide visibility for the ADS by participating in governance activities and serving on councils and committees as available.
Work with the Director of ADS on a partnership with Tacoma Public Schools Community-Based Transition Services (CBT) to bridge career and technical education with special education for students with disabilities ages 18-21. Spearheading this partnership to ensure that students in the CBT transfer to Pierce College and Pierce College follows them throughout their journey to promote retention of students with disabilities.
Attend conferences and meetings, in and out of state, appropriate to the function of the position.
Required Education:
Bachelor’s degree in social/ behavioral science, vocational rehabilitation, special education, or a related field or equivalent work experience (Three [3] years of experience working in higher education with one [1] of those years dedicated solely to work in disability services).
Required Experience:
Minimum of one (1) year of experience working with people with disabilities.
Minimum of one (1) year of experience assessing the needs, evaluating and placement of individuals with disabilities in higher education.
Experience working with economically disadvantaged, first generation to college students, and students from ethnic/culturally diverse backgrounds.
Experience with disability law, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and experience applying this understanding in a college context.
Experience with Accessible Information Management (AIM) software or similar ADS specific software.
Experience in reviewing medical, psychological, educational, and other appropriate documentation to determine students’ eligibility for accommodations.
Required Competencies: Knowledge, skills, abilities, traits and characteristics:
Extensive knowledge of and ability to administer high quality support services to students with disabilities.
Knowledge and understanding of racial equity, and intersectionality and how race intersects with disability status.
Knowledge and experience with creating and sustaining cross departmental relationships, especially with departments focused on racial equity work.
Extensive knowledge of and ability to interpret and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 & 508, college policies, and other applicable state, local, and federal laws and regulations.
Expertise and competence in understanding a broad variety of disabilities (e.g. physical, mental, learning, psychological).
Knowledge of and experience accessing a wide network of local, county, and state resources that interface with people with disabilities in order to provide resources and referrals to support students.
Knowledge of Student Services in higher education, and skill and ability to apply appropriate models for disabilities services.
Proven leadership and advocacy skills coupled with the skills and ability in managing and developing staff.
Excellent time-management and problem-solving techniques, and professional judgment in complex and sensitive situations.
Adhere to high standards of confidentiality, integrity and honesty.
Ability to function in a consultative and collaborative manner for case management, decision-making and problem solving.
Value diversity and possess an understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion and the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, families, and other customers from different backgrounds.
Ability to work in a district environment.
Ability to take direction and perform duties as assigned.
Application Requirements:
To be considered for this position, applicants must
Meet the required qualifications as outlined in this announcement.
Complete the online application profile at: https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/hr.
Apply for the specific job opening.
Upload (attach) a cover letter that addresses how you meet the required qualifications as outlined in this announcement. (Cover Letter)
Upload (attach) detailed résumé of all educational and professional experience. (Résumé)
Transcripts are not required in order to apply for this position; however, if you are selected for an interview, you will be asked to bring copies of unofficial transcripts showing completion of the required level of education. Please upload current copies of your transcripts, if available. Unofficial copies of all college and university transcripts must include degree received and conferral date. International transcripts must include a foreign transcript evaluation. For a list of approved credential evaluation services visit: https://www.naces.org/members (Unofficial transcripts acceptable for application process; official transcripts required upon hire). (Transcripts)
Upload (attach) a list of at least three (3) professional references with names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. At least one reference must be your current or most recent supervisor. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted. (References)
Provide a response to the following question. (Supplemental Question): How does this position impact the College's goal to support all students and to achieve racial and social equity in pursuit of mission? Please limit your response to a maximum of 500 words.
Special Note: To ensure consideration, application materials should be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.