Assistive Technology Specialist position open at Bryn Mawr College

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Jennifer Spohrer

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Aug 6, 2019, 9:27:50 AM8/6/19

to Greater Philadelphia Digital Humanities Group

Bryn Mawr College is seeking to hire an Assistive Technology Specialist to support students with disabilities and ensuring equal, usable, and universal access to all educational materials and environments, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. You will provide ongoing technical support, tech evaluation, and training for identified students and work with faculty and staff who are developing academic courses, programs, and materials to ensure accessibility.

This is a newly created position that reports to the Director of Educational Technology Services (ETS) within Library and Information Technology Services. You will work closely with LITS colleagues and with Access Services, which provides appropriate, reasonable accommodations to eligible students with disabilities enrolled at the College and operates from within the Dean’s Office. You will also serve on the Accessibility Leadership Committee, a College-wide body that researches and makes recommendations related to campus accessibility needs.

Responsibilities

Evaluate and recommend assistive technology solutions for students with disabilities and provide them with individualized training and support needed to use those solutions
Develop recommended College policies and procedures related to accessible course materials in collaboration with the Accessibility Leadership Committee
Collaborate with ETS, library and IT staff, and faculty to facilitate the creation or adoption of accessible textbooks, multimedia, websites, and other instructional materials
Communicate with Access Services, students identified as requiring accommodations, and their course instructors to identify course materials that need to be converted into alternate media formats and create/acquire those alternate media formats as needed
Respond to faculty, student and staff queries concerning accessibility and assistive technologies and provide professional consultation for community members
Collaborate with LITS colleagues to maximize accessibility and assistive flexibility of hardware and software solutions purchased and adopted, especially those used in classrooms and labs or to facilitate teaching, learning, and student services.
Collaborate with Communications and Web Services to inform ongoing web accessibility efforts
Conduct ongoing needs assessments and evaluations to determine the efficacy of assistive technology solutions and to recommend future enhancements.
Consult with Human Resources to provide advice relevant to adaptive technology solutions for staff and faculty with accessibility needs
Provide outreach and communication to raise community awareness about relevant tools and services, promote effective instructional strategies, and connect clients with appropriate supports. Communication responsibilities may include delivering presentations, developing workshops for faculty, students, or staff; developing content for College websites and publications; documenting support activities and outcomes; and advertising events, programs, services, and opportunities through LITS and College social media and marketing channels
Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Educational Technology Services

Skills and Abilities

Familiarity with technologies and platforms typically used for teaching, learning, and research in a higher education context. (Familiarity with Moodle and Office365 highly desirable.)
Knowledge of assistive technologies and how they can be used to support individuals with various disabilities
Understanding of relevant legal requirements, technology standards, and best practices, including ADA, copyright, Section 504, Web Accessibility Initiative, WCAG, and National Center on Accessible Education Materials Quality Indicators
Basic understanding of inclusive pedagogy and universal design for learning principles
Ability to research technology solutions for students with disabilities, evaluate accessibility using VPATs or testing, troubleshoot hardware and software problems, and quickly learn and teach new technologies and tools
Ability to collaborate successfully with a diverse community of faculty, students, and staff, including those with disabilities
Strong oral and written communication skills, especially the ability to capture and communicate complex technical information for a community with diverse levels of technical expertise
Ability to work independently and as part of a team and to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and competing time demands
Ability to build and maintain positive professional relationships
Creative and systematic problem solving, attention to detail and follow-through

Minimum Education and Experience

Two to three years’ professional focus on providing assistive technology support, services, and consultation to individuals with disabilities in a higher education context and/or certificate or degree from accredited program in assistive technology, special education, or similar field.

Bryn Mawr College is an institution of higher education offering a four-year, educational experience to approximately 1,400 students. Bryn Mawr was the first women’s college to offer graduate education through the Ph.D., and the College continues its support of master and doctoral programs through its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and its Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.

The College is located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania which is easily accessible by public transportation from Philadelphia.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume through Interfolio: