Disability Support Specialist

EVANGEL UNIVERSITY

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Disability Support Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Center for Student Success

STATUS: Full Time/Staff (12 month)

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday – Friday

REPORTS TO: Director of the Center for Student Success

AMOUNT OF TRAVEL REQUIRED: As needed (minimal)

POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Student Workers

PURPOSE: The Disability Support Specialist is the primary contact for disability accommodations in student academics, including new student intake interviews, student tracking, record-keeping, and ensuring accommodations are being effectively provided; evaluating documentation for disability accommodations requests; and handling administrative functions for Academic Support. Additionally, the Specialist collaborates closely with both the Retention Specialist and Tutor Coordinator to provide outreach and academic coaching services to students otherwise identified as “at-risk” in support of University retention and student success initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Disability Specialist will be the primary contact for students and/or parents seeking information regarding disability services, academic accommodations, and general academic support services, including (but not limited to):

• Providing disability services with an emphasis on securing the best outcomes for students; including:
  • Performing initial assessment of student needs and referral to specialists for evaluation if necessary
  • Establishing an individualized education plan with the student
  • Encouraging and developing appropriate self-advocacy skills in students
  • Assisting the student in communication with faculty
  • Networking and consulting with faculty on an individual basis to come to solutions for students with disabilities
  • Maintaining confidential file for disability students, including record of contact, medical and/or psychological reports, and other pertinent data
  • Developing and maintaining handbooks and other guidance materials for students, faculty, and staff regarding disability support services

• Communicating approved accommodations with students and faculty members
  • Maintaining effective communication with faculty and consulting with them regularly on ways to meet the individual learning needs of students with disabilities 
  • Researching best practices and on-going developments in the field of disability support services, including methodological, technological, and legal developments
• Consultation with necessary parties, to include the Director of the Center for Student Success, the Housing Office, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Student Development, individual faculty members, and other offices as applicable, to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable legislation, as needed
• Assisting the Retention Specialist and Tutor Coordinator with academic outreach, interventions, and academic success planning for students on academic probation 
  • Contributes to decisions on academic suspension appeals, as needed
  • Also assists the Retention Specialist with the formal withdraw process (for student leaving the university) and student transition from CAS (seated programs) to COL (online programs), as needed
• Providing outreach services to students who are underperforming or identified as generally “at-risk”
  • Meeting with “at-risk” students to assess individual need 
  • Establishing rapport with students by promoting a friendly and caring atmosphere
  • Advising students on effective use of accommodations (if necessary), self-advocacy skills, and/or other academic support needs and skill development 
  • Tracking student achievement and identified areas of difficulty for early intervention by the Center for Student Success

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Serving on EU Care Team committee as representative for disability support/CSS
• Coordinating testing accommodations with the Testing Center, including serving as reader and/or scribe as needed
• Consultation with the Housing Office to evaluate the documentation supporting requests for emotional support animals as an accommodation in EU housing 
• Developing and maintaining a Student Handbook for Students with Disabilities
• Ensuring continued compliance with the American Disabilities Act and other applicable legislation 
• Developing and maintaining online web resources for disability services, retention, and persistence
• Coordinating with the Retention Specialist for regular maintenance of retention and persistence reports and assisting as needed
• Performing other duties as assigned by the Director of the Center for Student Success

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong ability to assess student needs in the academic setting
• Knowledge of disability support services in a post-secondary setting, including providing support services and academic accommodations to students as well as
• Familiarity with legislation relating to disability access in post-secondary settings
• Ability to foster positive relationships with students and instructors, as well as various administrative university personnel
• Ability to facilitate effective communication between students and faculty
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to administer goals, objectives, and activities within student interaction
• Ability to work autonomously
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to supervise student workers
• Familiarity with basic computers skills and programs
• Experience working with college-age students

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s (or higher) preferred

MACHINES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

• Personal Computer Software applications: Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Canvas (Course Commons), LanSchool, etc.
• Employee and Faculty Portals, CAMS, ADP…
• Various learning enhancement technologies for students with particular disabilities, such as voice-to-text software, etc. (as needed)
• General office equipment

Evangel University is an equal opportunity employer participating in the E-Verify program.