Director, Accessibility Services

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director, the Director of Accessibility Services will provide strategic direction and leadership related to the administration and implementation of accessibility and accommodations services for students, other campus community members, and visitors with disabilities. They will facilitate equal access to the curriculum, campus facilities, and accessibility and accommodation services for programs and activities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, FERPA, and other federal and state laws pertaining to persons with disabilities.

The incumbent will have primary oversight for the administration and implementation of accessibility and accommodations services related to housing accommodation services and assistance animals, assistive technology, American Sign Language interpretation (ASL), CART / captioning, electronic / alternate format textbooks and course materials, learning support services, and visitor access and accommodations for University programs and events. They will also oversee learning support services and 1 : 1 skills sessions.

The Director will lead a team of staff to ensure the provision and implementation of non-exam accommodations and accessibility services and manage the administration and stewardship of university-wide resources and services for students and other campus community members and visitors with disabilities.

This is an essential on-site role that requires occasional weekend and late evening hours during times of peak operational volume. Some hybrid work options may be considered.

Responsibilities

Accessibility & Accommodation Services (60%)

• Provides leadership and makes strategic decisions to ensure students and other campus community members and visitors with disabilities have consistently inclusive access to fully participate in all aspects of the University programs and activities.
• Provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for the provision and implementation of accessibility and accommodations services related to : housing accommodations, service and assistance animals, assistive technology, note-taking, accommodations for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, ASL interpretation, CART / captioning, electronic / alternate format textbooks and course materials, learning support services and visitor access and accommodations for University programs and events and other related services.
• Manages quality assurance issues, providing feedback and education to staff to optimize performance and enhance the experience for students and faculty who interface with Disability Services.
• Proactively develops systems and services to determine and incorporate best practices; partners with the DS senior management team, University colleagues, and stakeholders to identify and eliminate barriers to continually innovate and deliver accessible services in the most inclusive manner.
• Manages accommodations and accessibility services for high needs students and works in consultation with the Senior Executive Director to resolve complex issues regarding accessibility and accommodations concerns.
• In collaboration with the Senior Executive Director, determines strategic priorities to develop, enhance, and maintain high-quality accommodations and accessibility services for individuals registered with Disability Services, evaluates services and initiatives to determine impact, recommends innovative opportunities, and advises the Senior Executive Director on emerging issues.
• Provides leadership and oversight for eligibility determination and provision of disability housing accommodations through a detailed, interactive, student-centered process in accordance with applicable regulations, laws and University guidelines.
• Chairs the Disability Housing Accommodations Committee and oversees the interactive process of determining eligibility for housing accommodations and assistance animals.
• Provides guidance and reviews service animal and emotional support animal requests for students and staff. Reviews and responds to student appeals of accommodations in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Oversees the facilitation and development of learning specialist sessions and learning support activities.
• Manages student complaints and resolutions; works with appropriate campus partners to resolve ADA issues-escalates complex issues to Senior Executive Director accordingly.
• Provides guidance relating to building, residential and campus accessibility and application of the ADA Accessibility Code. Works with University partners to resolve complaints or issues identified.

Leadership / Staff Management (25%)

• In partnership with the Senior Executive Director, establishes long-and short-range strategic planning for non-testing accommodations, accessibility, and learning support services to foster coordination and collaboration across Disability Services functional areas.
• In partnership with the Senior Executive Director, develop, implement, and evaluate the budget for accessibility and accommodations services.
• Creates and implements assessments and manages the collection and analysis of data to identify trends and patterns; conceptualizes and implements improvements based on data and trends.
• Monitors and makes recommendations for modifying University processes and policies related to the provision of accessibility and non-exam accommodation services to ensure accessibility and accommodations compliance.
• Oversees the recruitment and selection of staff assigned to the accessibility team; develops a comprehensive onboarding program for all personnel assigned to the accessibility team.
• Evaluates the performance of direct reports, including setting yearly goals, priorities, and objectives, identifying professional development opportunities, and setting high standards for professionalism and service delivery.
• Mentors and motivates direct reports individually and as a team, understanding and supporting diversity with a focus on establishing an integrated team.
• Oversees hiring and deployment of sign language interpreters, CART / captioning providers, personal care assistants, and other individuals who support these services. Develops effective note-taking systems; manages and provides clear directions and oversight to individuals that support this service.
• Leads functional area staff meetings with direct reports and provides feedback to facilitate continuous improvement; manages workload allocation and time off requests.
• Attends local conferences, workshops, seminars, training sessions, and professional organizational meetings and stay abreast of current accessibility and accommodations concerns.

Compliance / Awareness (10%)

• In partnership with the Disability Services leadership team and the Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging, build awareness, knowledge, and skills related to disability as part of Columbia Health's diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Serve as content expert for Disability Services to ensure programs, resources, and services are inclusive of students with disabilities.
• Maintains professional expertise in matters pertaining to federal and state regulations and policies affecting persons with disabilities, including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, including ADA standards and regulations
• Serves as a resource for faculty and staff; provides training on complex issues related to the provision of services for disabled students; educates faculty and staff on compliance and federal and state regulations and university policies as needed.
• In collaboration with the Senior Executive Director, leads the development and implementation of disability awareness strategies that promote campus accessibility, including policy development, implementation, evaluation, and relevant training in accordance with the University policies related to the provision of accommodations and accessibility services.

Performs other duties as assigned (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Counselor Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Special Education, or a closely related field required.
• Requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the provision of services for students with disabilities, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Proven management and leadership skills to lead, motivate, and influence at all levels.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the complex laws, policies, and best practices applicable to the full range of disability and access services in higher education, such as ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Fair Housing Act, and Universal Design principles.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing medical documentation to determine eligibility for academic and non-academic accommodation requests.
• Must be highly organized and detail-oriented with proven ability to exercise astute judgment and make sound decisions when consulting with senior-level administrators, faculty, as well as parents, and other key stakeholders.
• Outstanding problem-solving, critical thinking, and organizational skills, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment where urgent situations often arise.
• Ability to successfully negotiate complex systems and work in a decentralized academic environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, strategic, and relationship management skills are required.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of working with students of diverse backgrounds, academic performance, and disabilities; experience with both traditional and non-traditional students.
• Ability to work with confidential, highly sensitive information.
• Must be able to handle a high-volume workload, manage concurrent demands and multiple stakeholders, and work as part of a team.
• Substantial flexibility; flexibility in schedule, including some evening and weekend hours.
• Strong computer skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Counselor Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Special Education, or a closely related field.
• An understanding of assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.
• Advanced experience in managing and analyzing complex systems and process improvement strategies like KPIs.
• Experience with disability accommodations and services for graduate and professional students in higher education.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.