Assistant Director, DSS

• Administration: Acts as a Deputy for the Director, able to assume responsibility for decisions regarding GW’s ADA/Section 504, 508 compliance and to compose the DSS response to legal inquiries, addresses parent and faculty communications, and resolves student matters related to accommodations and accessibility concerns, etc. during the Director’s absence.
• Accommodation Eligibility: Employs knowledge of the post-secondary compliance requirements in the ADA and Section 504, and incorporates the principles of social justice and disability advocacy. Consults with the Director, as may be needed, to complete the eligibility determination and plan for reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students with more complex disability-related requirements, and for those students enrolled in one of GW’s Professional Schools (Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Nursing, etc.). Oversees the review of disability documentation and determination of reasonable and appropriate accommodations as completed by DSS Student Connections personnel.
• Student Accessibility and Inclusion: Coordinates DSS participation in university-wide new student orientations at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Prepares marketing for, and meets directly with, prospective students and families. Along with DSS Student Connections staff, collaborates with and advises university faculty and program administrators in regards to the general as well as more customized course-related needs of students with disabilities. Other student-focused assistance as would be in line with GW’s retention initiatives, with an emphasis on those students struggling to sustain satisfactory academic progress due to psychological and/or chronic health disabilities.
• Management: Manages two full-time employees. Plans and facilitates student case review team meetings to discuss DSS student needs and response strategies, ensuring continuity and consistency of services and supports across team members. Supervises the development and implementation of student skills development workshops, and 1:1 student connections offered for executive functions support and general advocacy. Promotes opportunities for DSS Student Connections staff professional development.
• Special Projects: Actively participates in strategic initiatives for and within Disability Support Services and ODECE. Provides leadership with DSS programmatic initiatives in keeping with the mission of education and awareness. Responsibilities to include but not limited to serving as the DSS representative meeting with colleagues in Student Engagement, Title IX, and collaborating on other related faculty/staff development programs. An interest in promoting a campus culture more responsive to a social justice model perspective advocating for full inclusion and accessibility.
• Institutional/Office Communication: Contributes to efforts to maintain the consistency of language imparting the DSS vision. Guides content management for web, print, and digital materials. Oversees, with staff colleagues, official office communication on all social media accounts: Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, etc.

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 6 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 4 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

• Knowledge of the compliance mandates that guide the provision of accommodations for students at a post-secondary as well as the objectives of implementing a social justice model for such supports, along with on the job experience working in the field of disability support at the post-secondary level.
• Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Conferred degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology and other closely related field.
• Proficiency with personal computers (email, internet, Microsoft Office) and the use of database software.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including, but not limited to, sensitivity to other people and the ability to work with others on a cooperative basis.
• Good decision making and customer service skills.
• Possess a friendly and positive disposition and the ability to work in a fast-paced setting.
• Able to work independently and efficiently to meet deadlines.
• Able to promptly answer support-related email, phone calls and other electronic communications; and self-motivated, detail-oriented, and organized.

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.