Senior Instructional Designer, Digital Accessibility

Senior Instructional Designer, Digital Accessibility

Company:
Austin Peay State University

Job Location:
Clarksville, 37044

Category:
Instructional Technology and Design

Type:
Full-Time

Job Description

The Senior Instructional Designer, Digital Accessibility supports the university's commitment to digitally accessible, high-quality Distance Education by partnering with faculty and staff to design, review, and improve accessible online and hybrid learning experiences. This position provides expert guidance on instructional design best practices, digital accessibility standards, and instructional technologies, with a particular focus on compliance with applicable accessibility laws and quality frameworks. The position collaborates closely with faculty, the Distance Education team, and campus stakeholders to review and remediate instructional materials, validate accessibility through functional testing, document compliance efforts, and develop scalable resources that promote accessible course design. Through consultation, training, and continuous improvement initiatives, this role helps ensure that digital learning environments are usable, equitable, and effective for all learners.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide consultive support to faculty on effective instructional design practices, instructional technologies, and digital accessibility principles to enhance the quality and usability of online learning environments.
• Educate, mentor, and train faculty and staff on digital accessibility best practices, including the creation, selection, and remediation of accessible instructional materials, multimedia, and assessments.
• Conduct comprehensive reviews of online and hybrid courses using established quality standards and digital accessibility guidelines, including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
• Collaborate with faculty to remediate existing instructional materials and vet new content for accessibility, usability, and compliance, ensuring all digital course components meet or exceed applicable WCAG requirements.
• Validate digital accessibility through functional testing, including the use of assistive technologies where appropriate, to ensure instructional materials are usable by users with disabilities.
• Facilitate, document, and track the course review and remediation process, maintaining detailed records for compliance and reporting needs.
• Manage instructional design and accessibility support requests and projects using a ticketing system, ensuring timely resolution, effective prioritization, and proactive communication with stakeholders.
• Advise university stakeholders on the accessibility of digital course materials, including guidance related to the adoption or use of third-party tools and content within the LMS.
• Monitor and support institutional compliance related to Distance Education regulations, digital accessibility laws (including Section 508 and ADA), and applicable university policies, in coordination with the Distance Education team and campus partners.
• Collaborate with Distance Education team members to optimize instructional technology configurations and learning environment settings for accessibility, functionality, and overall learner experience.
• Stay current on emerging trends, technologies, and legal requirements related to instructional design and digital accessibility, and proactively share relevant knowledge with the university community.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of instructional design principles and best practices for online and hybrid learning environments.
• Knowledge of digital accessibility standards and regulations applicable to higher education, including WCAG, ADA Title II, and Section 508.
• Knowledge of accessibility best practices for digital instructional materials, including documents, multimedia, and assessments.
• Knowledge of learning management systems and instructional technologies used in Distance Education.
• Knowledge of Universal Design for Learning principles.

Skills

• Skill in reviewing online and hybrid courses and providing clear, actionable feedback to improve instructional quality, digital accessibility, and usability.
• Skill in remediating digital instructional materials to meet established accessibility standards.
• Skill in consulting with faculty and staff in a collaborative, supportive manner that encourages adoption of digital accessibility design practices.
• Skill in communicating digital accessibility requirements and instructional design concepts clearly to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Skill in using digital accessibility evaluation tools and techniques, including automated and manual review methods.
• Skill in managing multiple support requests or projects simultaneously, including prioritization, documentation, and follow-through.

Abilities

• Ability to analyze instructional materials and digital learning environments to identify accessibility and usability barriers.
• Ability to apply digital accessibility standards and instructional design principles in practical, faculty-centered contexts.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a Distance Education team.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation and records to support compliance tracking and reporting.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and professionalism when advising on digital accessibility compliance and instructional design decisions.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree
• 2+ years of experience in instructional design, instructional technology, and/or digital accessibility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience applying WCAG-based digital accessibility standards to online or hybrid course materials, including remediation of documents, multimedia, assessments, or LMS content.
• Experience designing, reviewing, or supporting online courses in higher education, with the ability to provide clear, faculty-centered feedback on instructional quality, usability, and accessibility.
• Experience developing and delivering training or consultations for faculty or staff on instructional design, digital accessibility, or instructional technologies.