Working/Functional Title

Health Sciences Access Specialist

Position Summary

• Provides advising, direct services, consultation, and referrals to persons with disabilities to facilitate full participation in university professional health sciences programs and services 
• Provides outreach, consulting, and presentations to university faculty and staff to facilitate an environment of accessibility and inclusion  

Illustration of duties: 

1. Provision of direct services to persons with disabilities (60%): 

• Read, interpret, and critically analyze medical and functional capacity documentation to determine when conditions represent ADA qualified disabilities 
• Interact with students and employees to assess program eligibility, conduct needs assessments, and determine reasonable accommodations for health science professional programs 
• Assist with selection and usage of appropriate compensatory strategies and assistive technology where relevant 
• Utilize data from needs assessments and disability documentation to implement effective accommodation strategies that enable health science professional students to meet essential functions in academic and clinical settings   
• Review, recommend, and implement auxiliary aids/services and reasonable accommodations 
• Facilitate full participation in academic and clinical placements, and extracurricular life through advising, service coordination, and networking 
• Facilitate positive peer contacts and interactions among persons with disabilities Produce and present workshops and presentations on disability and accommodations Develops and administers programs and services intent on increasing engagement in the mission and programs of Michigan State University, fostering student success, and ultimately advancing career and life success

2. Presentations, in-services and consultation with faculty, staff, and departments (20%): 

• Provide consultation and advocacy with faculty and staff regarding individual accommodation needs 
• Lead training activities on disability issues, rights, responsibilities, reasonable accommodations, and inclusive design 

3. Coordination of programs providing services to persons with disabilities (20%): 

• Develop and implement innovative programs to address student needs 
• Annual reporting of programmatic needs, progress, and strengths/weaknesses 
• Maintain knowledge/expertise regarding the issues, resources, and concerns for disabled individuals 
• Collaborate on proposals that facilitate new or expanded programmatic efforts  
• Other duties as assigned. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -health education, disability studies, rehabilitation counseling, public health, social work, or other relevant disability and health related fields

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in health education, disability studies, rehabilitation counseling, public health, social work, or other relevant disability and health related fields  
• Experience working with disabled individuals in clinical and/or educational environment 

Knowledge, abilities and skills required: 

• Knowledge of educational and employment-related accommodations, skills, and tools used by persons with a range of disabilities 
• Knowledge of state and federal laws pertaining to disability access and compliance 
• Ability to use personal interviews and medical documentation (including psycho-educational reports, medical documentation, and assessment reports) to assess disability  
• Experience developing accommodation plans with disabled individuals 
• Excellent written communication skills and ability to produce clear case notes 
• Excellent oral communication skills including group presentations 
• Strong collaborative/team skills balanced by an ability to operate independently with minimal prompting 
• Working knowledge of assistive technology and its role in facilitating full participation by persons with disabilities 
• Working knowledge of information management via computer technologies including databases, web-based data systems, e-mail, spreadsheets, and word processing 

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with health professions education programs 

Required Application Materials

Resume and letter of interest 

Special Instructions

This is a hybrid position requiring 3 days on campus or visiting clinical sites. 

Reports to the Associate Director of the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities for general direction and specific projects. Innovation, independent judgment and collaboration with colleagues is expected for most assignments.  

Review of Applications Begins On

11/11/2024

Website

uhw.msu.edu

Department Statement

MSU is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. 

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.