Working Title: Accessibility Specialist - Office of Disability Services

State Role Title: Administrative and Professional Faculty

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Accessibility and Belonging

Department: 100170 - Office of Disability Services

Pay Band: 

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $47,500 - $50,000 

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 11/6/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Accessibility Specialist provides disability accommodation services and accessibility support to students with disabilities through individualized assessment, consultation, and coordination of accommodations. This role promotes equitable access to university programs, services, and activities by ensuring compliance with applicable disability laws, supporting consistent accommodation practices, and collaborating with campus partners to facilitate effective access and inclusion.

This role serves as a primary provider of disability accommodation services within the Office of Disability Services, responsible for conducting individualized reviews of accommodation requests, facilitating the interactive process, determining eligibility and reasonable accommodations, and coordinating the implementation of approved accommodations across academic, housing, dining, and other contexts. The Accessibility Specialist collaborates with campus partners to address disability-related access concerns, supports the Associate Directors with fundamental alteration processes, provides consultation to students, faculty, staff, and families, maintains accurate case records, and supports departmental operations and continuous improvement efforts that promote equitable access and disability inclusion throughout the university.

Duties and Responsibilities:

#1: Direct Student Services

• Conduct individualized assessment and analysis of requests for disability accommodations. Determine eligibility and reasonable accommodations through individualized assessment and analysis of documentation, supporting materials and evidence including student circumstances, observations, and self-reports.
• Facilitate the interactive process with students seeking disability accommodations and services.
• Provide direct student services that include, but may not be limited to:
  -Initial intake consultations
  - Registration for services
  - Prompt response to student requests for accommodations
  - Assist with the identification and development of appropriate academic accommodations, auxiliary aids and services.
  - On-going disability-related support
  - Accommodation review and follow-up consultations, as appropriate.
• Effective collaboration with appropriate university units to facilitate the coordination and timely provision of accommodations and services for students with disabilities.
• Monitor and assist with resolution of accommodation implementation concerns.
• Maintain accurate, current and pertinent records of disability services reviews, decisions, and communications.
• Support consistent implementation of departmental accommodation practices, procedures, and service standards.
• Support the Associate Directors with the fundamental alteration process.
• Serve on the Housing Accommodation Request Committee and provide administrative and back-up support to the ODS Liaison for Housing Accommodations.
• Serve as ODS Liaison responsible for the coordination of Dining Accommodations.
• Develop working knowledge of areas that intersect with accommodations (academic, etc.) to support consultation and service delivery efforts.
• Support the department through participation in group and individual case consultation discussions, as needed.
  
  

#2: Departmental Operations and Program Support

• Maintain current knowledge of and adhere to established policies and procedures of ODS and JMU. Seek consultation as needed.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal and state disability laws, regulations, guidance, and emerging professional practices related to higher education disability services.
• Support departmental assessment efforts. 
• Provide system support. Assist with identifying and implementing system optimizations for improved departmental operations. Support the dismounting of old systems and transitioning to new systems, as needed. Systems include but are not limited to, databases, software, CRM, and file systems.
• Assist with design and delivery of staff training and development activities, as assigned.
• Provide feedback regarding and support continuous improvement of departmental resources, procedures, forms, guidance materials, and accommodation service delivery processes.
• Assist with operational projects, workflow improvement efforts, and technology-related initiatives, as assigned.

#3: Collaboration, Consultation and Outreach

• Provide professional and timely consultations with students, faculty, staff, parents and other constituent groups
• Collaboration with faculty and staff partners leading to accommodation implementation.
• Consult with university partners regarding disability-related access barriers and effective access strategies.
• Represent ODS at outreach events and provide trainings, as assigned.
• Support departmental efforts to promote disability inclusion, accessibility, and student self-advocacy.
• Participate in university committees, collaborative initiatives, and campus partnerships, as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree (or attaining within 6 months) in higher education, counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, social work, special education, student affairs, disability studies, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information, exercise sound judgment, and make recommendations within established policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and student cases simultaneously.
• Attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to established policies, procedures, and professional standards.
• Written, verbal, interpersonal, and consultation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse constituents.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to learn, apply, and effectively utilize technology systems and software applications.
• Commitment to accessibility, Universal Design, and student-centered practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of disability-related laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Experience working in higher education disability services, student affairs, counseling, education, rehabilitation, social services, or a related field.
• Experience conducting individualized assessments, reviewing documentation, and/or making service-related recommendations.
• Experience determining, implementing, or supporting disability accommodations.
• Experience providing consultation, case management, advising, coaching, or other direct student services.
• Experience effectively utilizing databases, case management systems, CRM systems, or enterprise software applications.
• Experience participating in process improvement, service assessment, operational projects, or technology implementation efforts.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.