Specialist - Advisor-Continuing

About the Role

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. Access Specialists maintain and employ cutting-edge knowledge in their specialty area to provide outstanding advising, outreach, and direct services related to the specialization. This role serves as a subject matter expert who supports timely, informed interactions and solutions that advance disability access within Graduate and Professional Schools. The position maintains comprehensive knowledge of program requirements, technical standards, and curriculum, and provides leadership to strengthen coordination among academic and clinical programs, internship and clerkship sites, students, and RCPD Access Specialists.

This is a hybrid position located in East Lansing, MI with the expectation of two non-consecutive remote days per week.

Responsibilities

• Provision of direct services to persons with disabilities (40%):
  • 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.
  • Utilize disability documentation and data from needs assessments to implement effective accommodation strategies that enable students and employees to meet essential functions in academic and workplace settings.
  • Read, interpret, and critically analyze medical and functional capacity documentation to determine when conditions represent ADA-qualified disabilities.
  • Monitor academic progress and assist with academic advising.
  • Assist with selection and usage of appropriate compensatory strategies and assistive technology where relevant.
  • Facilitate positive peer contacts and interactions among persons with disabilities.
• Supervision of Access Specialists (20%):
  • Serve as first-line support to Access Specialists, in partnership with the Associate Director, as they address unique dynamics faced by students and faculty to facilitate legal compliance while emphasizing student development and career readiness.
  • Assist the Associate Director in developing opportunities for professional development to advance staff skills, address emerging program needs, and maintain an exemplary work environment characterized by team cohesion, topical expertise, and leadership.
  • Assist staff in determining priorities, aligning resources, effective case notation, and delegating tasks where appropriate.
• Presentations, in-services, and consultation with faculty, staff, and departments (20%):
  • 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 disability and accommodations.
• Leadership of critical focus area (15%):
  • Under the direction of Associate Director, serve as principal organizer of a critical mission area of RCPD Accommodation work and ensure effective and efficient communication and practices.
  • Work with RCPD Leadership and staff to develop, implement, and uphold policies and procedures.
  • Serve as content expert and maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices and current legal trends.
  • Work with Director and Associate Director to explore strategic direction of RCPD.
  • Serve as a representative of RCPD on internal and external committees, contributing expertise, collaboration, and leadership in support of organizational and campus-wide initiatives.
• Coordination of programs providing services to persons with disabilities (5%):
  • Support 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.

Requirements

Required Degree: Masters in Education, Student Affairs, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, or related area of disability study.

• 3–5 years of professional experience in disability or accessibility services or a closely related field, including direct advising and case management for individuals with disabilities.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting disability documentation and determining reasonable accommodations in accordance with ADA and related regulations.
• Experience consulting with faculty, staff, or organizational partners on accessibility and inclusion practices.
• Prior experience supervising or leading professional staff.
• A record of developing trainings, outreach, or program initiatives in a higher education or similarly complex organizational setting.

About the Department

Spartans lead in ways practical and profound. We create opportunity through study and research, developing solutions for some of the world's most challenging needs. Education expands opportunity and for those experiencing disabilities, education is a most empowering choice. This is why Team RCPD works diligently to engage MSU traditions of quality, inclusiveness, and connectivity for the benefit of all.