Job Information
Whitman College Disability Support Services Specialist in Walla Walla, Washington
WHITMAN COLLEGE
Located in the historic community of Walla Walla{rel="nofollow"}, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.
Whitman College{rel="nofollow"} is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO). POSITION PURPOSE
Under the supervision and guidance of the Director of Academic Support Services, the Disability Support Services (DSS) Specialist will advise, counsel, and help students with disabilities become more effective learners with respect for all of the challenges they bring. The DSS Specialist provides a warm, welcoming on-campus presence to students seeking support for new and continuing accommodations. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
Meet with current students seeking accommodations, working with them through the process of applying or renewing or modifying accommodation requests, including intake meetings, acquiring and evaluating documentation, identifying and implementing accommodations as appropriate, and providing assistive technology support.
Meet with prospective students and families, assisting with arrangement of disability support services for incoming and returning students, evaluating documentation, identifying and implementing accommodations as appropriate, and providing assistive technology support.
Serve as an on-campus presence and resource, and also be available virtually as needed by students.
In collaboration with the Assistant Director of DSS, coordinate acquisition and accuracy of alternative format texts, and work with students and faculty to ensure all alternative texts are in a readable and/or audible format for the student.
In collaboration with the Assistant Director of DSS, coordinate, maintain, and troubleshoot the inventory of assistive technology available for students with disabilities, including training students with disabilities on how to use specific equipment. Stay abreast of emerging technology for potential acquisition.
Collaborate with campus stakeholders to ensure accessibility of programs and services for students.
Provide individualized academic coaching and mentoring for students with disabilities (with an emphasis on first-year students).
Adhere to Whitman DSS protocols for obtaining and uploading documentation to support accommodations and for recording notes about the interactive process with students in the Accommodate system.
Serve as a trusted resource for faculty, staff, and students who have questions about student accommodations.
Participate in planning and presenting faculty and staff professional development about disabilities and disability student services.
Provide support to the Testing & Tutoring Coordinator for accommodated testing, including advising as needed about the proper application of accommodations, the academic integrity of testing, and communication with faculty and students.
Perform other tasks as requested by the D