Position Purpose: The Disability Accommodations Director supports Aurora University by coordinating services provided to students with disabilities. The person in this position is responsible for ensuring compliance in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). The Director will oversee services classified as reasonable accommodation such as note-takers, readers, sign language interpreters, equipment loans, modified testing services, advocacy, and other adaptations. Accommodations and services are provided to students who self-disclose and supply verification of the existence of a disabling condition. A person is considered disabled when he or she has a mental or physical impairment that limits one or more major life activities such as mobility, hearing, sight, and learning.
Core Competencies:
Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
Upholds the Mission Statement: Aurora University an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning.
Handle confidential information with tact and discretion.
Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned.
Essential Job Functions:
Evaluates student documentation and provides eligibility determination for accommodations in accordance with ADA, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and ADAA.
Conducts access meetings with new students and determines appropriate level of services (provisional, temporary, permanent) and makes recommendations for accommodations, services, and referrals.
Arranges for the implementation of accommodations to meet student needs and performs other duties to facilitate equal access.
Ensures compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by monitoring the successful implementation of individualized accommodations.
Works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and external service providers and agencies to coordinate and implement all access-related services for students.
Manages daily operations of the testing center with a focus on academic integrity, which includes staff supervision, test administration, and materials conversion.
Oversees the provision of assistive technology and coordinates the acquisition of auxiliary aids, interpreters/captioning services, etc. to provide an infrastructure of equal access.
Coordinates the acquisition of alternate formats for printed materials as needed.
Maintains confidential, accurate, and complete records of student accommodations.
Meets with registered students to ensure awareness of university resources and services and advocates for utilization.
Teaches self-advocacy skills so students can effectively communicate with faculty, staff, and peers.
Creates materials designed to educate students with disabilities on services available at Aurora University.
Collects, maintains, and analyzes student data for on-going departmental review and improvement.
Works collaboratively with AU's Pathways program.
Essential Job Requirements:
Education:
Bachelor's degree in education, special education, psychology, counseling, or related field; Master's degree in higher education administration, student personnel, special education, rehabilitation counseling, or a related field preferred.
Experience:
Two years of professional experience working with students with disabilities in an educational or comparable institutional setting.
Experience reviewing and/or interpreting disability documentation (e.g. psychological assessments, special education records, audiology reports, etc.) for the purpose of determining reasonable accommodations.
A minimum of three years of disability support or related experience is required, preferably at a post secondary institution.
Experience working with students with disabilities.
Experience with assistive technology and textbooks in an alternative format.
Skills:
Knowledge of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Ability to work with confidential, highly sensitive information.
Excellent verbal and written communication and problem-solving skills.
Outstanding organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Must be a self-starter with the ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
Reliable, punctual, prompt, and efficient.
Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with campus partners, characterized by cooperation, attention to detail, flexibility, and personal responsibility.
Professional and team-oriented with an ability to interact with diverse groups of students, parents, faculty, and staff with respect and sensitivity.
Computer proficiency is required including using Microsoft Office programs.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to sit or stand at a desk.
Ability to move about campus.
Ability to bend, stoop, use stairs, and lift up to 25 pounds.
Ability to use a computer and general office equipment.
Travel in own vehicle to other AU locations.
Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to becoming a model university of the 21st century. Toward this effort we are determined to have a faculty, staff, and student body reflecting the cultural demographics of the greater Chicago area.
Aurora University (AU) is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. It is committed to helping students discover what matters and build their life around it.
AU is a private, nonprofit, independent university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers more than 45 undergraduate majors — such as nursing, social work, business administration, criminal justice and psychology — and a wide variety of master’s and doctoral degrees that include social work and business administration. Degree programs are grounded in real-world experiences and are led by experienced, dedicated faculty members, nearly 140 of whom are full-time. The student/faculty ratio is 18:1.
Almost 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students take classes on two main campuses — Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois, and George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin — as well as the nearby Orchard Center in Aurora and the Woodstock Center in Woodstock, Illinois. Online classes are also available. The Aurora University campus is located 40 miles west of Chicago.
AU has 24 NCAA Division III teams competing in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, Midwest Lacro...sse Conference, Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference and Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. About 700 student-athletes compete in sports. AU has a rich history and tradition of success across the spectrum of sport offerings. From conference championships to NCAA Championship appearances to academic awards and community service, student-athletes and staff continue to bring excitement and a sense of pride to Aurora University and all of the Spartan fans across the country. At AU, we firmly believe that intercollegiate athletics should promote the character development of participants, enhance the integrity of higher education, and promote civility in society. Toward these ends, we strive to adhere to fundamental values such as respect, civility, honesty and responsibility. Student-athletes and staff are always expected to operate with the principles of sportsmanship and ethical conduct in mind.
Founded in 1893 in Mendota, Illinois, as Mendota Seminary, the institution soon changed its name to Mendota College. By 1911, it had outgrown its facilities and the following year changed its name to Aurora College and moved to Aurora, where its students could take advantage of a thriving business environment and easy access to Chicago. In 1985, Aurora College changed its name to Aurora University to better reflect the magnitude of its academic offerings. Seven years later, Aurora University and George Williams College traditions blended when the two institutions entered into an affiliation agreement that paved the way for a merger eight years later. In 2010, the Woodstock Center opened to meet the needs of students in McHenry County and surrounding communities.
Website: https://aurora.edu/