Job Summary/Basic Functions

The Assistant Director is responsible for coordinating supports and accommodations for students with disabilities. They achieve this by serving as a guide to incoming and prospective students with questions about services, by guiding students through the ODR registration process, reviewing documentation, conducting initial appointments with students, and determining appropriate accommodations. This individual must have a strong understanding of disability and will provide support to a variety of students with disabilities, including (but not limited to) psychological conditions, ADHD, Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, chronic health conditions, sensory based disability (i.e. vision and/or hearing, and/or physical/mobility conditions.

The Assistant Director also serves as a representative of the office and the university during an array of trainings, presentations, and other events across campus and throughout the community.

Required KSAs/Competencies/Qualifications

• Knowledge of Disability laws and regulations (federally as well as within the Commonwealth of Virginia) as well as the differences regarding these regulations between higher education and the K-12 system
  
• Knowledge of academic adjustments (i.e. accommodations) in an educational setting
  
• Computer proficiency, Microsoft Office tools (i.e. Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel etc.), Zoom and other common productivity tools.
  
• Case management and meeting documentation skills (i.e. notes).
  
• Public speaking skills (audiences may range from 5 to several hundred).
  
• Written professional communication skills.
  
• Interpersonal skills and collaborating with various personalities, learning styles, and communication styles.
  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with students, parents, faculty, and staff from a broad range of programs and disciplines.
• Ability to navigate sensitive topics with empathy and compassion.
  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of private personal and medical information.
  
• Ability to remain adaptable amidst change and uncertainty.
  
• Ability to manage time and competing priorities and tasks.
  
• Ability to coalesce around a small team of other disability support specialists with myriad responsibilities.
  

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years working with individuals with disabilities.
  
• Responsibilities involving the handling of confidential and sensitive information.
  
  

 Required Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Disability Studies, Psychology, Applied Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Social Work, Human Services, Child and Family Studies, Public Health, Health Sciences, Speech Language Pathology, ASL, Deaf Studies, or a related area

Additional Considerations:

• Education:
  Master's Degree in Disability Studies, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Guidance Counseling, Higher Education Student Affairs, or related field.
  
  

KSAs:

• Interpreting medical, educational, neuro-psychological, psycho-educational, or other forms of disability documentation and assessment; the social model of disability, and how individuals learn.
  
• Using a case management system such as Accommodate, AIM, or a similar tool.
  
• Express creativity, Resolve conflict, Manipulate spreadsheets in MS Excel and understand basic reporting and analytical thinking skills.