Director of Student Disability Resource Center

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Director of the Student Disability Resources Center (SDRC) is responsible for the assessment, evaluation, coordination, and provision of centralized academic accommodations and educational outreach on issues related to disabilities for students of The Claremont Colleges (TCC) who have or are suspected of having learning and physical disabilities. The Director oversees the SDRC operations, programing, resources, and staff. This role also serves as a consultant to the Disabilities Services professionals on each of the seven campuses.

The Director provides leadership in developing, evaluating, and implementing inclusively designed educational activities and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws regarding access for students with disabilities. Responsibilities include development of collaborative support for TCC students including managing the Accessible Information Management system, providing assistive technology, managing accommodated test proctoring and note taking, and facilitating communication between college based accessibility coordinators. Additionally the Director provides in person and remote training for faculty, staff and students on issues related to accessibility.

The Director is expected to stay current on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other legal compliance and best practices in disability services in higher education. The Student Disability Resource Center maintains consortium membership in the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) national organization.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

25% Program Evaluation and Development

• Based on assessments and evaluations and in conjunction with campus identified disability coordinators, evaluate current accommodations and disability services and trainings offered throughout TCC and make recommendations for improvements.
• In collaboration with the campus specific Disability Coordinators, create and recommend new procedures and policies, identify redundancy, and implement more efficient methods to provide accommodations.

25% Advocacy and Mentoring of Students

• Interact with students, provide academic and emotional support.
• Meet with campus representatives (staff, administrator, and faculty) and stay current on campus resources and trends.
• Help and/or coordinate help for cross registered students needing accommodations, proctoring assessments for students who are approved for accommodations, and scheduling the use of assistive technology.
• Make recommendations to improve the consistency of reasonable accommodations across the campuses.

25% Workshops and Training

• Collaborate with the campus Disability Coordinators to conduct workshops for faculty, staff and students.
• Stay current on federal and state guidelines related to Section 504 and all applicable state and federal disability statutes.
• Maintain general awareness of current literature and case law in post-secondary education and upon requests, make presentations on issues related to students with disabilities.

25% Administrative Responsibilities

• Coordinate regularly scheduled meetings individually and collectively with college identified disability coordinators.
• Coordinate permission from publishers for materials to be distributed to students.
• Attend TCCS Integrated Wellbeing meetings and serve on committees as needed
• Ensure the SDRC serves as a centralized repository for testing/assessment documentation materials.
• Thoroughly review documentation and provide accommodations in a timely manner.
• Provide oversight, development, and performance management for SDRC staff.
• Ensure accurate record keeping.
• Ensure confidentiality of office correspondence and records.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Number of Direct Reports: 1 staff position. This number may increase as needed to meet demand.
• Title of Direct Report: Assistant Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

Unless otherwise stated, the following qualifications are required to perform the essential functions of this position, or the individual must demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed (with or without reasonable accommodation) using other qualifications not listed below.

Education/Training: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, or the equivalent in education, training, and additional experience beyond the minimum required. A masters degree in related field is preferred.

Experience: At least five (5) years of experience demonstrating administration, management, and leadership skills, including policy development. Proven experience with integration of disability services with academic advising, counseling, health, and other student support services.

Competencies:

• Proven knowledge of best practices as defined in the Association of Higher Education on Disability (AHEAD), the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling, and the American Counseling Association.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, FERPA, and other pertinent federal and state laws that provide for an accessible higher education experience for disabled students.
• Knowledge of models of disability and inclusive educational design and their applications in higher education.
• Knowledge of testing for and ability to interpret, psycho-, neuropsychological educational, and other professional documentation to determine reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of the functional limitations of students with disabilities, and an understanding of their academic, social, and emotional needs.
• Proactive approach to problem solving and use excellent judgment for decision-making.
• High-level of organization skills and ability to initiate, manage, and complete multiple projects on time.
• Working knowledge of web accessibility and technologies designed for people with disabilities
• Competency in software and technology that supports students with disabilities, including creation of an engaging and informative website for the SDRC.
• Strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Advanced interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional judgment and ability to deal with others and with confidential information in a manner that exhibits patience, diplomacy, and discretion.
• Able to work effectively and courteously with diverse socioeconomic, cultural, gender, disability, and ethnic populations.
• Skill for working in a collaborative, multi-stakeholder team environment.
• Able to work productively with individuals across a complex organizational structure.
• Commitment to and diversity and inclusivity for diverse identities of students, faculty, and staff.
• Able to develop a data base of viable community resources related to academic and other supports for students
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain a collaborative environment.
• Ability to respond to multiple requests and develop solutions in a timely fashion.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience managing an office responsible for providing disability services
• Experience working within a complex, interdepartmental organization with varying cultures and policies
• Demonstrated experience in working on equity and diversity initiatives within and across different constituencies

COMPENSATION

Pay: The pay rate for this position is competitive and commensurate with the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required for the position, between $10,000 - $10,833.33 per month.

Benefits: This position is eligible for our employment benefits package including:

• medical, dental, vision,
• 10% retirement contributions after one year (no matching required),
• group life insurance,
• generous time off,
• professional development funds,
• discounts for mobile plans, software, and entertainment,
• access to fitness facilities,
• and more!

Disclaimer:

This job 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 position. When duties and responsibilities change and develop, The Claremont Colleges Services will review this job description and make changes of business necessity. TCCS reserves the right to modify job duties or assign additional duties as needed.

ADA/OSHA:

This job description defines the essential job duties of this position. The Claremont Colleges Services expects that employees hired for this position can perform the essential functions of this job without imposing risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others. It may also include marginal functions, generally defined within Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Equal Opportunity Employer:

TCCS is an equal opportunity employer. TCCS managers make employment decisions on the basis of merit, with the aim of having the best available person in every job. TCCS prohibits discrimination based on all characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. TCCS also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of these characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of these characteristics. All such discrimination is unlawful.