POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Director, Disability Resource Center
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1814
GRADE 45
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Deputy Compliance Officer
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Director of the Disability Resource Center is responsible for collaborating with members of the campus community to proactively create usable, equitable, and inclusive learning environments. The Director of the Disability Resource Center ensures that students with disabilities who experience barriers in the design of University programs, services, and facilities have equal access through the provision of accommodations. The Director of the Disability Resource Center works with academic advisors to develop a plan of action and/or accommodation plan with students experiencing barriers by conducting interviews, collaborating with the student, and reviewing medical documentation to develop the plan of equal access. The Director of the Disability Resource Center receives documentation and requests for accommodation for students at the Springfield, West Plains, and Mountain Grove campuses and refers the students to the Associate Director, Disability Resource Center-Access Technology Center to address barriers that might be resolved through the use of technology. The Director of the Disability Resource Center serves in a consulting role to the Academic Support Center on the West Plains Campus and to the Mountain Grove campus. The Director of the Disability Resource Center provides training, technical assistance and consulting services to faculty, staff, administration, and students including universal design, reasonable accommodations, as well as information regarding local, state, and federal legislation. The Director of the Disability Resource Center works collaboratively with members of the campus community by serving on committees such as the President’s Council on Disability, anticipating changes that may create or remove barriers and advises as appropriate.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Master's degree in Disability Studies, Social Work, Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel, Developmental Education, Rehabilitation, Counseling, Psychology, Special Education, or a related area is required.
Experience: At least two years of progressively responsible experience in disability services is required, preferably in higher education. Supervisory and budgetary experience are preferred.
Skills: Knowledge of universal design and the socio-political model of disability is required. Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and their application to the university setting are required. The ability to conduct interviews and review medical documentation to develop appropriate accommodations is required. The ability to collaborate with students to determine the best learning environments and appropriate accommodations is required. The ability to solve problems and develop creative solutions when barriers are present is required. The ability to organize and evaluate programs for students is required. Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills are required. Computer literacy is required. Effective group presentation skills are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community members to proactively create usable, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments by advising the senior administrations about universal design, reasonable accommodations, disability rights and responsibilities, technology, architectural and programmatic barriers, and local, state, and federal legislation related to disabilities; developing and recommending policies and procedures that promote inclusion and universal design in programs and facilities; maintaining cooperative working relationships on campus and in the community; recommending student participants for campus committees on which student participation is needed; and coordinating ongoing efforts to have fully accessible and usable learning environments.2. Ensures that students with disabilities who experience barriers in the design of University programs, services, and facilities have equal access through the provision of accommodations such as auxiliary aids and services, materials in alternative formats, sign language interpreters, lab assistants, assistive technology, readers, test proctors, note takers, equal access to facilities, etc. as well as providing information and referral concerning admission, access, and participation in University and community programs.
3. Establishes collaborative relationships on campus and in the community by serving on committees such as the President’s Council on Disability and others, anticipating changes that may create or remove barriers, and advising the campus community as appropriate.
4. Provides training and technical assistance to faculty, staff, administrators, and students about universal design, disability studies and issues, reasonable accommodations, technology, barriers to programs and services, as well as local, state, and federal legislation related to disabilities.
5. Provides effective administration of the Disability Resource Center by maintaining student records relating to communications with students, recommended courses of action or accommodations, and documentation provided by the student.
6. Advises and assists the Academic Support Center of the West Plains campus, the Mountain Grove campus, and for University departments and individual faculty and staff.
7. Develops a competent and effective staff of full and part-time employees, graduate assistants, and student workers by recruiting and selecting qualified persons to serve as interpreters, readers, test proctors, and notetakers, providing training in the various service functions and orientation on policies and procedures, making work assignments based upon qualifications, and supervising and evaluating work performance.
8. Manages funds through preparation, submission, and execution of a departmental budget.
9. Develops a plan of action and/or reasonable accommodation with students who have disabilities through an interactive process which includes conducting interviews, reviewing documentation, and collaborating with the student and faculty and/or staff.
10. Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
11. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the Deputy Compliance Officer.
12. Contributes to an effective unit by completing projects and performing other duties assigned by the Deputy Compliance Officer.
SUPERVISION
The Director of the Disability Resource Center is supervised by the Deputy Compliance Officer and supervises full- and part-time staff, graduate assistants, and student workers.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED JULY 2022