Communication Access Manager

The Communication Access Managers primary role is facilitating Westerns obligation to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations for disabled students with a focus on serving d/Deaf and hardofhearing students. The Communication Access Manager is responsible for supervising managing and coordinating the activities and functions of accommodations/services programs for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in the Disability Access Center (DAC) and for ensuring the timely and effective provision of accommodations for qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal guidelines and regulations. Primary responsibilities will include: managing the DAC SpeechtoText Program; arranging American Sign Language interpreters; providing technical and logistical support to students faculty and campus partners on the use of real time transcription closed captioning and other services for d/Deaf and hard of hearing students; providing training to the campus community on best practices in promoting inclusion and understanding of Deaf culture; managing DAC equipment and inventory; and recruiting hiring training assessing and supervising service providers.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

40 Facilitate disability accommodations via interactive process

• Facilitate all aspects of the interactive process in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and university policies. Document administration of the interactive process following DAC procedure.
• Evaluate student applications for disability accommodations including any medical/psychological documentation and documentation of previous accommodation history.
• Independently plan and conduct individual access planning meetings (APMs) with students. Explain DAC process and students rights and responsibilities relative to this process.
• Gather additional information about the students experience of disability past impact of disability on their education and potential barriers to full inclusion in the university experience (e.g. education university housing and cocurricular activities).
• When additional information is needed to make an accommodation determination advise the student on how to provide required information such as thirdparty supporting documentation. As needed provide referrals to university resources such as the Counseling and Wellness Center or Student Health Center or to local specialists.
• Following DAC process determine eligibility for appropriate accommodations. This requires synthesizing and analyzing information gathered from the students application medical and other thirdparty documentation previous accommodation documents (IEP/504 and the interview with the student.
• Notify the student of accommodations decision. When a student is eligible for accommodations generate a letter of eligibility for the student their faculty and appropriate staff outlining the accommodations.
• Serve as a resource to faculty and staff as they work to effectively implement accommodations. Partner with faculty to understand course design; as appropriate offer guidance about adjustments that can improve accessibility.
• Respond to all inquiries regarding individual student accommodations via email call or inperson meetings.
• Consistently maintain student confidentiality.
• Liaise for specific accommodation implementation

45 Manage the Disability Access Center (DAC) Communication Access Accommodations

• Manage daily operations of the DAC SpeechtoText Program (live captioning) and Closed Captioning Program
• Recruit hire train and supervise real time transcribers.
• Provide ongoing professional development opportunities for transcribers
• Coordinate scheduling of speechtotext service providers.
• Provide quality control on completed transcripts.
• Establish and maintain accurate budgetary and personnel records program files and archives of Deaf and hardofhearing services.
• Provide technical and educational assistance to faculty staff and students working with students who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
• Maintain equipment and software licenses for TypeWell and other transcription tools.
• Schedule contract services for deaf and hardofhearing students to include sign language interpreters and real time transcription and post production closed captioning services
• Coordinate contracts with sign language interpreter and transcription agencies.
• Provide equal communication access services (either speechtotext or ASL interpreting) in classes or campus events
• Work with faculty and staff to identify videos that require closed captions
• Manage the completion of closed captioned videos.
• Prepare a quarterly report for the DAC Director for each assigned accommodation/service program to include information on faculty/student usage summary of programs/services efforts budget information and tracking and other pertinent or requested information.

10 Maintain Review Modify and Develop Policies and Procedures

• Regularly review policies and procedures and make recommendations for modifications to improve services.
• Develop and recommend new policies and procedures to ensure the effective and timely provision of accommodation and services within assigned programs of responsibility. Understand and appropriately apply interpret and explain office and University policies and procedures and State and Federal rules regulations and laws (e.g. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• Provide technical and instructional assistance and support for faculty staff administration and students working with students with disabilities.
• Remain current on research and legal activity in the field and national trends to guide policy/procedure development/revision and recommend improvements in the delivery of services for the office and more broadly across the campus.
• Maintain an awareness of the trends and technology for Deaf and hardofhearing students. Research develop and recommend new or revised production methods and technological applications to improve DAC accommodations/services.

<5 Other duties as assigned

• Engage in research and continuing education activities that further knowledge and skills to support the full inclusion of disabled Western students including professional development regarding access diversity equity and inclusion that advances abilities to best perform job responsibilities.
• Participate in Unit Division and university committees as assigned by supervisor.
• Participate in outreach events
• Assist other Disability Access Center staff with special projects
• Assist in advising the campus community as appropriate on the use and implementation of universal design concepts and principles; identifying barriers to access and inclusion and providing counsel on how to build a universally accessible environment.
• Collaborate with WWU Academic Technology and User Services in providing assistance and support to faculty and staff in the creation of accessible instructional materials hosted on web pages and learning management systems.
• Create foster and maintain collaborative working relationships with faculty staff administration and students
• Other duties as assigned

• Masters degree in Education Social Work Counseling Rehabilitation Counseling Student Affairs or a related field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency and 3 years experience in providing realtime transcription or American Sign Language interpretation.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize and apply student narratives health care documentation and records of prior accommodations to make sound decisions about disability accommodations for Western students.
• Strong knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations governing the rights of disabled students in higher education including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to deliver services in alignment with the biopsychosocial model of disability.
• Demonstrated ability to advance equity and support the development of students who are disabled BIPOC and LGBTQ including students who hold multiple marginalized identities.
• Demonstrated ability to perform job responsibilities collaboratively with colleagues and students across departments and disciplines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to engage small and large groups of students faculty and staff.
• Demonstrated time management skills excellent professional judgment and experience handling confidential and sensitive information.

• Supervisory experience
• Fluency in American Sign Language.
• Knowledge of assistive technologies for people with disabilities such as texttospeech speechtotext and screen reader software.
• Knowledge and experience using the AIM Database System.
• Direct work experience with individuals with disabilities in postsecondary education.

A cover letter and resume are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications. Please include the names and contact information of three professional references. References will only be contacted if necessary with notice provided beforehand.