Student Accessibility Coordinator
Job Details
Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.
Job Title: Student Accessibility Coordinator
Department: Office of Accessibility
Primary Work Location: North Benson Road, Fairfield
Direct Supervisor: Director of the Office of Accessibility
Basic Function:
Reporting to the Director of Accessibility, the Student Accessibility Coordinator is responsible for supporting and coordinating tasks that pertain to students with disabilities. Primary responsibilities include determining, coordinating, and ensuring compliance with federally mandated accommodations and support services for students with disabilities through the interactive request process. The Student Accessibility Coordinator works collaboratively with the Office of Accessibility team to oversee student accommodations, including note-taking assistance, exam proctoring, and flexibility accommodations. Further, the position requires working with students, faculty, and staff, and all campus partners, to ensure that appropriate Office policies, procedures, and processes are upheld, and accommodations are implemented. This position serves as a resource for students, families of prospective students, faculty, and staff for issues related to student disability accommodations needed to provide equal access to academics and campus life.
Unusual Work Conditions:
Some evening and weekend hours are required.
Education, Certification, License, and Experience Requirements:
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills are required, as well as excellent interpersonal skills, orientation to details, and computer proficiency.
- Experience working with vulnerable student populations and their parents/guardians. Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the impact of these laws on accommodations for students with disabilities.
Education: A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Higher Education Administration or related field is required. A Master-level degree in a related field is highly preferred; however, commensurate professional background/experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced degree.
Experience: A minimum of 1-3 years of direct experience working with students with physical, sensory, learning, psychological, and/or other disabilities in a higher education, k-12 or clinical setting. The candidate should be knowledgeable about various disabilities and accommodations in higher education and best practices regarding implementing accommodations.
Essential Functions:
- Reviews and interprets disability documentation and evaluations
- Engages in the interactive request process with students with disabilities to formally approve academic and campus life accommodations
- Maintains detailed, timely, and confidential case notes documenting student interactions, accommodation decisions, communications, and follow-up actions
- Tracks accommodation requests, approvals, and outcomes using institutional case management systems
- Manages campus life accommodation requests, including but not limited to, emotional support/assistance animal requests, housing accommodation requests, dining accommodation requests, and other campus accommodation requests Regularly engages and consults with Residence Life, Dining staff/ University nutritionist, and Public Safety/Parking Office.
- Manages existing student cases, including meeting with students, ensuring all documentation is in place, and providing necessary guidance and support regarding the implementation of the approved accommodations
- Acts as an advocate for students when accommodations are recommended and/ or have not been implemented
- Engages with faculty and academic departments to navigate academic accommodations in specific courses or programs and continue the interactive process
- Participates in Academic Affairs, Student Life and Office of Accessibility staff meetings, as well as represents the Office of Accessibility on various University committees when needed
- Represents OOA at prospective student events and Orientation Information sessions
- Designs/disseminates information on new policies and procedures for accessibility and accommodations; researches best practices in disability support in higher education
- Works with various offices throughout the University (via meetings, workshops, and/or seminars) to: a) promote the mission and resources of the Office of Accessibility, b) provide knowledge/input related to the role of the Office through trainings, c) assist with evaluating student accessibility, d) discuss crisis management issues pertaining to student accessibility
- Assists with the implementation of various accommodations, including but not limited to, audio books and accessible course content, CART services, exam proctoring and implementation of alternative testing accommodations, notetaking assistance, and flexibility accommodations
- Represents the Office of Accessibility via courteous, efficient, and professional behavior; upholds the utmost respect for student/family privacy and confidentiality
- Other duties as needed/assigned
Work Schedule: 12-month role
Employee Type: Exempt (salaried)
Category: Student Life - Admin
Load a resume or CV first, then upload supporting documents including a cover letter at the bottom of the third page under the "My Experience" section where it says to upload a *Resume/CV*. You will be able to upload up to 5 other documents in this section. You will be unable to edit your application, so please have all documents available before applying. Staff positions: If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email them to hr@fairfield.edu
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