Director, Disability Services

Newtown Township, PA, United States

It's great to work at a place where people are truly committed to serving our students! We're committed to bringing passion and energy to our College.

The Director of the Accessibility Office is to provide direct services for students with disabilities in support of their access to college learning. The Director is also responsible for accessible physical spaces across all campuses in conjunction with Physical Plant, the oversight and implementation of Assistive Technology (AT), the purchase of accessible software, supporting the IT Department, Marketing, and other college constituents to ensure that Section 508 compliance is met. Along with the provision of direct services, the Director initiates and oversees actions to ensure the college does not discriminate against students and the public with disabilities and who are otherwise qualified to participate in college programming and activities. This position requires ongoing research, professional development, and training to be up to date on all legislation, court decisions, government rulings, and the application thereof to ensure civil rights compliance of the college for and concerning individuals with disabilities. The Director provides accessibility support, guidance, and training for all members of the professional campus community and supports community and educational partners with training, as requested. The Director also supervises other staff who provide direct service to students in need of accommodations.

Primary Functions:

Determine eligibility of students for reasonable accommodations by evaluating relevant medical, psychological, and other documentation, as well as performing student intake interviews. Oversee other staff who are responsible for determining eligibility.

Suggest reasonable accommodations that includes adaptive technology when needed and means for securing such for students.

Oversee the preparation, documentation, and timely dissemination of official "Faculty Accommodation Memos" for eligible students to provide to instructors when requested by the student.

Work with the Instructional Research team to document enrollment of students with disabilities for each semester.

Collect data relating to student caseload to show potential needs for future semesters.

Advocate for students, both for individuals and for the population, in order to educate our community of learners' differing needs, as well as to expedite delivery of needed services.

Supervise and evaluate staff: Assistant Director, Learning Disability Specialists, Specialized Administrative Support, Adaptive Technology Specialist, and other part-time positions such as note-takers, scribes, etc., used on a per diem basis.

Develop service policies and procedures for student and staff use related to accessibility issues and needs.

Monitor program services, unit budget, and student service usage in order to assess effectiveness and financial impact.

Review, monitor, and implement federal laws and regulations, related court decisions, and US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights rules to ensure compliance with civil rights laws.

Consult with state and local resources, such as Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Visual Services, PA Transition Team, regarding disability mandates and resources.

Develop and update web content for the accessibility office web page as needed and in accordance with the applicable policies, procedures, and best practices that are set out by the Office for Civil Rights.

Review all accessibility complaints and work with faculty/academic administration to solve issues as they arise.

Review all data and keep up to date records for students registered with TAO.

Research and review all potential AT that could be used to support students with access to courses and programming at the college.

Duties otherwise assigned .

Secondary Functions:

Administer tests that must be given in alternative formats, such as orally, scribing, in Braille, etc.

Attend or otherwise participate in professional development activities and represent the college and/or present subject matter expertise at relevant events.

Create marketing and information materials for students, staff, faculty, and community members.

Work with Tutoring, Counseling, KEYS, or Military Connected Services to support students with a team approach, as needed.

Attend advising meetings for student support, as needed.

Connect with community partners, such as the IU and stakeholders to support transition events and information.

Present at community events, like transition fairs, as requested by community partners.

Develop and administer programming for students to support wellbeing and accessibility.

Develop and administer programming for the community at large to build awareness of accessibility.

Develop and administer the Honor Society for students with disabilities.

Salary range: $65,618 - 84,210 (commensurate with experience)

Bucks County Community College offers an exceptional benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, 403B pension plan, life insurance, short & long-term disability, generous paid time off, summer hours, tuition waivers, tuition assistance, wellness center, cafeteria, and free parking on a beautiful Bucks County campus.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree in Special Education, Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Higher Education, or related field

At least 5 years of experience working with people with disabilities in a higher education setting

Evidence of having worked with matters regarding Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA, showing an understanding of the relationship of these laws to higher education

Experience with addressing and/or removal of physical barriers in various settings

A proven understanding of the transition process from high school to college, along with the knowledge of the differences between the laws of K-12 and higher education

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Experience with student and project advocacy within an organization

Supervisory and management experience over budgets, personnel, and/or a department or unit

Experience working with adaptive technology for accommodative purposes

Data management experience

Professional training and presentation experience

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references.

At this time, this position operates on a hybrid schedule, with an on-campus/in-office presence three days a week.

We are proud to be an organization that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another's thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Please Note: At this time, the College does not provide work visa sponsorships. To be considered for employment at Bucks County Community College, applicants must be permitted to legally work in the United States without employer sponsorship. Bucks County Community College participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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