Assistant Director of Accessibility Resources and Services

Search:#1119
Date Posted: 11/04/2022
Type/Department:Administrator in JEA
Search Status:Position Filled
Apply Now:Currently we are not accepting resumes for this position.

Hampshire College

Department:  Office of Accessibility Resources and Services – Division of JEA       

Job Title: Assistant Director of Accessibility Resources and Services

Position Type: Full Time

Schedule: 35 Hours a week

Pay Range/ Status: $60,000 - $65,000/ Exempt                                                                             

Location: Hampshire College Campus in Amherst, MA

Reports to: Director of Accessibility Resources and Services

Anticipated Start Date: January 3, 2023

 

Hampshire College, an independent, innovative liberal arts institution and member of the Five College consortium, is located on a beautiful rural campus in Amherst, Massachusetts. We provide residential undergraduate education to nearly 600 students. Each department at Hampshire College contributes to the collaborative culture of the organization and plays an important role in the success of the College. By removing barriers to equal access to an inclusive learning atmosphere and all aspects of campus life, the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) provides reasonable accommodations and empowers students to be self-advocates.  As part of the office of accessibility team, you will be instrumental in the department achieving its mission and goals!

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

The assistant director of accessibility resources and services (ARS) is a full-time, 12-month professional staff member in the office of accessibility, resources and services (OARS) in the division of justice, equity, and antiracism, reporting to the director of accessibility resources and services. The assistant director shares in the responsibility for all facets of the office by keeping abreast of the field of disability so as to support students with a wide range of disabilities—AD/HD, autism, blind/visual impairments, learning/cognitive disabilities, medical disabilities, mobility impairments, deafness/hearing impairments, psychological disabilities, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and temporary impairments.  This position facilitates an interactive process of determining eligibility for appropriate accommodations and modifications in program, services and/or activities; serves as consultant/advisor to students, faculty/instructors, staff, and campus community to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive appropriate accommodations, adjustments, and modifications as mandated by federal, state, and local laws.

The assistant director is a student development practitioner who cares deeply about forming strong relationships and engaging in meaningful experiences with students, and is open to new and challenging experiences directed towards professional growth. This position requires a person who is highly motivated, and culturally competent to demonstrate a commitment to social justice and active citizenship as well as fostering exploration, community engagement, and the development of students. This position needs to be highly visible, maintain strong connections and work successfully with students, faculty, staff, families, and external constituents. The assistant director must have experience in program management and feel comfortable working in an evolving, fast paced organizational framework with shifting responsibilities.

Additionally, this position plans, evaluates, and improves the Holistic Learning Program processes and procedures to enhance quality and effectiveness of the Holistic Learning Program, Holistic Learning Access Service, and OARS. The assistant director will exhibit strong skills regarding instruction, facilitation, and program planning. Problem-solving, critical thinking, strong communications and organizational skills are essential for success. Teaching students with disabilities strategies to assist with learning and developing key skills, they will empower them to be successful in life.

The assistant director contributes to campus-wide educational initiatives, for instance ENGAGE Day of Learning, New and Transfer student Orientation, Community Orientation, and Community Education Day that advances the College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Participates as a committed member of the justice, equity, and antiracism team in college and divisional committee work, projects, meetings, retreats and overall community development. Assists in coordination and facilitation of academic courses, co- curricular activities and services for students. Works collaboratively and proactively with other members of the campus community to ensure students with disabilities have a voice, space and place where they feel listened to, included, and advocated for. Under the director’s leadership and strategic guidance, the assistant director of ARS will coordinate programs to support programming for OARS students, provide leadership, and educational resources that lead students in the direction of empowerment and self-advocacy. Centered in both restorative and transformative Justice, the assistant director will aid in creating a campus culture that is more actively anti-ableist and equitable. This position supports the general operations of OARS and the promotion of broad disability awareness, access, and inclusivity.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

  • Passionate about working in an organization that values, and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.
  • Understands, is committed to and implements Hampshire Colleges and departmental affirmative action and non-discrimination regulations, policies and principles.
  • Participates in professional activities and organizations. Performs other related duties as assigned.
  • Demonstrated understanding in ADA, Section 505 compliance as it applies to providing accommodations to students with information processing, organization and executive functioning deficit.
  • Working knowledge and ability to apply the Americans with Disabilities Act, Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Fair Housing Act (FHA) and other laws as they pertain to individuals with disabilities.
  • A working understanding of the nature of accommodation needs of students with neurodivergence and teaching experience at the college level in the area of developmental writing, information processing, organizational and executive functioning skills.
  • Teaches class, facilities workshops and provides programs and services to create greater access to information processing, executive functioning.
  • Ability to serve as an advocate for students for all abilities, racial, ethnic, genders, and sexual orientation backgrounds.
  • Supports and promotes the College’s commitment to issues of social justice.
  • Ability to foster dialogues between faculty and students and amongst various constituencies.
  • Understands the intersection of disability with race, gender and other social justice identities.
  • Maintains a working knowledge of various forms of adaptive technology equipment and applications, functions, methods, costs and usage.
  • Working knowledge of Universal Design for Learning and holistic teaching pedagogy.
  • Ability to advocate for students’ accessibility needs across the various divisions of the College.
  • Knowledge of accessibility as it pertains to learning, electronic IT and physical spaces.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of disability documentation at the level necessary to review and interpret diagnostic results to determine the characteristics and accommodation requirements of people with disabilities, with a focus on educational, workplace and social activities per university criteria and to determine appropriate accommodations.
  • Ability to interact with individuals with disabilities, their faculty, staff, and other constituents of disability services and to work well as part of a team and demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, administration, management and students.
  • Demonstrated experience working effectively with diverse populations across types of disabilities, race, class, gender, sexuality, age, religion, etc.
  • Ability to travel for job-related purposes and work evening and weekend hours as required.
  • Effective written, verbal communication and interpersonal skills required.
  • Comfort using or ability to learn Microsoft Office, Excel, video production software (ex. camtasia) and assistive or learning technology (Dragon, Kurzweil,).
  • Program assessment and data collection experience.
  • Experience supervising student staff.
  • Familiarity with daily office management responsibilities and budget/payment processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and plan programs.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Four-year college degree or equivalent.
  • Three years’ job-related experience.

Alternatives to formal education and paid work experience may be considered as equivalent qualifications to include military service/training, volunteering, activism, and other non-traditional programs and experiences related to the position.

BENEFITS:

Hampshire College offers an excellent benefits program for eligible employees such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, generous retirement plan contributions, flexible leave plans, and many other fringe benefits. For information on Hampshire College, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at www.hampshire.edu.

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

Hampshire College is an equal opportunity employer and deeply committed to a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are particularly committed to revealing and combating the social and institutional structures that support racism and white supremacy in all phases of employment and college life. We believe that the educational and employment environment is enhanced when diverse groups of people with diverse ideas come together to work and grow. We encourage applications from women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, sexual minority groups, veterans, and other candidates who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives. Hampshire College is committed to removing barriers to employment faced by equity-seeking groups and encourages (but does not require) members of these groups to self-identify in their application materials. Applicants whose work incorporates a global perspective and a demonstrated commitment to issues of diversity in the work environment are particularly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit your cover letter, resume and names/phone numbers of three professional references via our website at https://jobs.hampshire.edu/

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. 

Hampshire College is an equal opportunity institution, committed to diversity and inclusion in education and employment.