Specialist - Advisor-Continuing

Working/Functional Title

Access Specialist

Position Summary

Position Overview:

Michigan State University has earned a reputation for excellence in facilitating inclusion of persons with disabilities in a range of educational and work-related opportunities. Ability Access Specialists at the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) maintain and employ innovative knowledge in their specialty areas to provide outstanding advising, outreach, and direct services. The work of the center and this position empowers access to the range of MSU opportunities. We are intent on developing future leaders who are academically prepared, equipped with skills, networks, and perspectives that facilitate career and life success.

This position:

Provides advising, direct services, consultation, and referrals to persons with disabilities to facilitate full participation in university programs and services.

Provides outreach, consulting, and presentations to university faculty and staff to facilitate an environment of accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities.

Develops and administers programs and services intent on increasing engagement in the mission and programs of Michigan State University, fostering student success, and advancing career and life success.

Illustration of duties:

1.         Provision of direct services to persons with disabilities:

• Interact with students and employees to assess program eligibility, conduct needs assessments, and determine reasonable accommodations
• Review, recommend, and implement auxiliary aids/services and reasonable accommodations
• Facilitate full participation in academic, workplace, and extracurricular life through advising, service coordination, and networking
• Monitor academic progress and assist with academic advising
• Assist persons with disabilities on the selection and usage of appropriate compensatory strategies and assistive technology where relevant
• Facilitate positive peer contacts and interactions among persons with disabilities

2.         Programming, Presentations, in-services and consultation with faculty, staff, and departments:

• Provide consultation and advocacy with faculty and staff regarding individual accommodation needs
• Make referrals to appropriate campus and community resources
• Produce and present workshops and presentations on empowering students and employees to achieve despite disability challenges
• 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

Supervision received:

Reports to the 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.

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 -Psychology, counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or related field

Minimum Requirements

Minimum qualifications:

Master’s degree in special education, higher education administration, rehabilitation counseling, social work, Psychology, or other fields related to integrating people with disabilities in education and the workplace. Those anticipating receipt of a master’s degree in one of the related fields may be considered when they demonstrate compelling experience related to this position.

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 persons with disabilities
• Ability to use personal interviews and medical documentation (including psycho-educational reports, individual educational plans, and assessment reports) to validate the existence of a disability and to determine and implement appropriate accommodations and auxiliary aids/services
• 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 collaborating with persons with disabilities with focus on chronic health and co-existing disability challenges is preferred

Required Application Materials

• Letter of interest
• Resume or CV
• 2 letters of reference

Website

RCPD.MSU.EDU

Department Statement

Together, we create a welcoming environment, fortify capacity and compassionately challenge each person to reach their fullest ability. Disabilities need not preclude the achievement of goals and dreams; rather, they mandate a greater level of creativity, commitment and a repertoire of compensatory techniques. We grow ambition into personal and professional success as we connect MSU knowledge, self-advocacy, innovative technology and community.

Team RCPD is ready to assist students, employees and visitors with resources that create an environment of opportunity. We value full integration of persons with disabilities throughout the University mission, programs and services.

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.