Director of Accessibility and Disability Services - Connecticut State Community College

Details:

Posted: December 10, 2024
Level: Community College Professional 21, 12-month, tenure track position.
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Closing Date: The committee will begin review of applications immediately. Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm (EST) on Wednesday, January 8, 2024.

Location:

CT State Community College
185 Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051
**This position is not remote**
For more information, please visit the campus website or www.ct.edu/hr/jobs

CT State Community College Mission:

Connecticut State Community College provides access to academically rigorous and innovative education and training focused on student success. The college supports excellence in teaching and learning, makes data-informed decisions, promotes equity, and advances positive change for the students, communities and industries it serves.

CT State Community College Vision:

Connecticut State Community College is recognized for exceptional student success, educational leadership and transformative collaboration with business and industry, government, educational and key stakeholders while advancing diverse opportunities for Connecticut’s citizens and communities.

CT State Community College Equity Statement:

Connecticut State Community College commits to bold and disruptive change by actively identifying, naming, and dismantling structural racism, systemic poverty, and other barriers; establishing equitable and anti-racist policies and practices; and empowering students, faculty, staff, and administrators to advance racial, social, and economic justice. Our core collective responsibility is to continuously assess practices and policies and transform the world we live in by eliminating inequities.

Anticipated Start Date: 

February 2025

Position Summary:

The Director of Accessibility and Disability Services supervises the delivery of comprehensive and coordinated services for students with disabilities and accessibility needs, as defined under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the l973 Rehabilitation Act for the entire CT State Community College, inclusive of 12 legacy campuses, 23 instructional sites. The Director serves as the primary liaison with state and private agencies and as a resource to CT State Community College campuses and to the public at-large. The Director supervises the professional and support staff, manages operating and auxiliary aids budgets, and conducts annual program and service evaluations. The Director researches and remains current on issues related to disability support services in K-12 and postsecondary settings.

Example of Job Duties:

Under the direction of the Vice Provost of Student Affairs, the Director of Accessibility and Disability Services is responsible for effective performance in these essential duties:

• Manages, leads, and directs the staff and activities of the Offices of Disabilities/Accessibility Services and all ADA and Section 504 compliance programs of CT State Community College related to student support services.
• Serves as a resource to the entire college wide community, including individual faculty, in designing and delivering reasonable accommodations required by the law.
• Establishes and maintains collegial and programmatic relationships with student affairs, academic affairs, and administrative affairs divisions; Engages in collaborative program initiatives related student access and success.
• Supervises and evaluates all professional and support staff of the Campus Offices of Student Disability Services; selects, trains, and supervises campus directors of disability services at each campus
• Develops and manages collegewide program budgets, including division operating budgets, auxiliary aid budgets, and funds obtained through grant applications.
• Develops and updates, as required, all written policies, procedures and protocols guiding the work of the division, ensuring policies are consistent with legal mandates related to disability in postsecondary education settings.
• Provides training, professional development, and serves as a resource to all campus constituencies (individual faculty and staff, student affairs, academic affairs, and administrative affairs) on all aspects of the division, including but not limited to accessibility training, sensitivity to disabilities, emerging trends in disability rights and services.
• Collects, analyzes, and uses data to inform improve services, and support the equitable attainment of post-secondary credentials.
• Convenes disability and accessibility staff to review and analyze data, identify trends, and recommend modifications to practices and protocols that improve student-centered practice.
• Coordinates and manages budget and budget allocation of recruitment of staff in partnership with campus disability directors.
• Conducts on-going and end-of-year evaluation activities to assess the effectiveness of the services and satisfactory progress of all campus disability offices.
• Assures the highest level of confidentiality for all service providers which reflect the privacy rights of all student clients of the office of Student Disability Services.
• May serve as advisor to student organizations which promote institution-wide understanding of disability issues.
• Serves on the Digital Access Committee to ensure compliance with closed captioning of online and recorded materials.
• Consults with and advises school and campus deans, program coordinators and department chairs on program occupational skill-based requirements and determining any exceptions for accommodations or alternative options.
• Partners with Campus Directors of Academic Support Centers related to testing accommodation

In addition to the accountabilities listed above, the incumbent is required to carry out the essential duties of: Attendance and participation at convocation and commencement ceremonies; Service on assigned committees and task forces; Attendance and participation at committee, staff, informational and professional meetings.  These may involve attendance at evening or weekend events.

This posting includes qualifications, experience and skills but is not limited to the full specifications stated in the job description.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in Special Education, or a related field, with four (4) or more years of related experience that includes two to four years of supervisory experience; or a combination of education, training and experience which would lead to the competencies required for successful performance of the position’s essential duties.

Incumbents are required to have demonstrated advanced knowledge and abilities in the following: 

• Administrative experience with demonstrated ability to relate to students, faculty, and staff.
• Proven ability and experience working with students with disabilities and delivering services to them and recognized and proven ability to coordinate a large, multi-faceted program of student support services.
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills.
• Strong networking with social service agencies and community-based partners that serve and provide resources to individuals with disability and accessibility needs.
• Demonstrated understanding of ADA compliance.
• Extensively trained in Universal Design principles and neuro divergent needs.
• Knowledge of Assistive Learning Technology/Adaptive Devices.

Candidates must possess proven ability to effectively work with culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse faculty, staff, and students. They are expected to have excellent oral and written communication skills along with strong Information technology literacy skills such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Multi campus experience.
• Community college experience.
• Doctorate in Special Education or Higher Education Leadership.

Starting Salary:

Minimum Salary; $95,698 approximate annual plus excellent State of CT medical insurance, retirement, and related fringe benefits. The salary will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications such as education and job-related experience, and internal equity.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include generous leave policies; several retirement plans; and many choices for comprehensive health insurance. You also have access to many additional benefits to save for retirement, protect your family & more with supplemental benefits. Tuition reimbursement may apply if applicable. 

Application Instructions:

To apply you must submit a cover letter and resume. The cover letter may be entered as text in the corresponding box, or it can be uploaded as a combined file with the resume.  

Incomplete applications or those submitted after the closing date will not be considered and links to other sources to view resumes are not acceptable.

For more information or to apply via our website at www.ct.edu/hr/jobs

Selection Procedure:

Following the closing date, application materials will be evaluated by a selection committee. Candidates selected for further consideration will be limited to those applicants who are best qualified based on the minimum and preferred qualifications and who have submitted all the required documents by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Candidates who have been selected and approved to interview will be contacted, and finalists will be recommended for further consideration by the Hiring Manager for final selection and recommendation for employment. The selection process may also include practical exercises (i.e., teaching demonstration and/or other written, technical, manipulative, or simulation exercises) to evaluate candidates' qualifications.

Background Screening:

All employment, if offered, is contingent upon proof of citizenship or employability under the requirement of the Immigration and Control Act (IRCA) and the successful passing of a background check, including granting permission to contact current and previous employers for verification. CSCU is committed to providing a safe campus community. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check and, when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

Continuing Notice of Nondiscrimination

CSCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or criminal record. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, PhD, MSW, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, (jchaisson-cardenas@commnet.edu).

CSCC IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, M/F

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