"Disabilities Services Specialist"

The Disability Specialist conducts intake meetings, verifies the disabilities of students requesting support services, and approves accommodations based on documentation and interview with student.

The Disability Specialist instructs students to utilize their accommodations with our online system; counsels and advises students with disabilities and assists in the timely resolution of issues that students with disabilities may encounter in courses and throughout the institution.

This position provides a high quality of customer service to students/staff/faculty/parents on disability related issues and concerns via phone, email, and in person. Position is located at the Orange Campus.

Responsibilities:

• Meet with students with disabilities to determine academic accommodations.
• Interpret diagnostic assessments, scores and reports for medical, physical, psychological and learning disabilities.
• Provide expertise for university personnel in meeting the guidelines of federal and state disability law.
• Provide ongoing consultation to faculty and staff to facilitate equal access, learning and other opportunities.
• Under limited supervision, problem solve to resolve faculty and/or student accommodation issues.
• Coach/counsel students with disabilities concerning academic issues.
• Maintain client records in accordance with legal and ethical guidelines and standards.
• May support the services of Notetaking and Real Time Captioning.
• Will develop and maintain positive working relationships with all contacts both inside and outside of Chapman University.
• Attends professional trainings, webinars, workshops, committees and community opportunities to stay current with trends related to disability issues.
• Serve as a resource for students, staff and faculty for ADA accessibility issues for academics, programs and physical access.
• Meet with prospective students and parents to promote and educate on accommodations available at Chapman University.
• Participate in campus accessibility-related activities, groups and functions.
• Perform other duties as assigned in pursuit of accommodating students.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree preferred in special education, higher education, educational psychology, or related discipline, or a combination of equivalent education and experience.
• Two years of experience in a college or university setting that is directly related to the duties and responsibilities.
• Knowledge of current assessment techniques and national testing procedures; technical skills to learn and use new assistive technologies.
• Strong working knowledge of state/federal disability related laws and how to interpret those laws into daily decisions to maintain institutional compliance and to concurrently protect students with disabilities with appropriate accommodations.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret documentation for students with disabilities.
• Strong written communication skills to prepare clear, concise, grammatically correct reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to maintain accurate office and student files in accordance with legal requirements and ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
• Demonstrated communication skills and interpersonal skills to interact with groups of diverse individuals at all organizational levels, both inside and outside of the University, including with communication of difficult information under stressful situations and communication of technical matters.
• Strong planning and organizational skills to prioritize multiple projects under pressure and shifting demands and to meet critical deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills with experience in gathering and collecting data, reasoning logically, drawing valid conclusions, and making effective recommendations.
• Ability to exercise initiative and work independently, within a team setting.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and make appropriate and compliant decisions.
• Computer skills in the use of spreadsheet, word processing, database, presentation, electronic mail, internet applications, preferably in a Microsoft Office suite software or software related to area of responsibility; technical skills to learn and use enterprise systems needed for position.
• Membership in professional associations and currency in the field of disability services.