Director, Disability Services

Director, Disability Services

The Director of Disability Support Services (DSS) provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight to ensure access and support for students with disabilities. This role is responsible for the administration and delivery of academic accommodations and related services in full compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as Amended (ADAAA). The Director leads all aspects of DSS operations, including program development, service delivery, staff supervision, and budget management. This position requires exceptional strategic thinking and planning skills to design and implement initiatives that advance accessibility, foster student engagement, and align departmental goals with the missions of the University and the Division of Student Affairs. As a key member of the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students leadership team, the Director collaborates across the institution to support student success.

Salary : $75,000

Responsibilities (Duties include, but are not limited to) :

Ensures institutional compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as Amended (ADAAA).

Reviews, evaluates, and determines eligibility for academic accommodations for registered students.

Facilitates the implementation of accommodations and ensures access to academic programs and campus services.

Management and Operations

Provides strategic leadership and direction for the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS), guiding the vision, goals, and implementation of comprehensive programs and services for students with disabilities.

Leads and oversees all aspects of disability support operations, ensuring compliance with institutional policies, state and federal regulations, and best practices in accessibility.

Develops, administers, and monitors departmental budgets, operational plans, and resources to ensure efficiency, accountability, and alignment with university priorities.

Supervises professional staff and student employees, ensuring appropriate staffing levels, effective training, and optimal resource allocation to meet institutional and student needs.

Promotes a culture of collaboration with campus partners to enhance accessibility and remove barriers to student success.

Planning and Assessment

Leads strategic planning efforts for DSS to support the university's mission and divisional priorities.

Develops and implements short- and long-term goals, assessment plans, and measurable outcomes for services, programs, and staff performance.

Collects, analyzes, and reports data on program activities and outcomes to guide continuous improvement and inform decision-making.

Anticipates emerging needs and trends in disability services and integrates best practices into departmental operations.

Supervision and Leadership

Recruits, hires, trains, evaluates, and supervises full-time professional and student staff.

Provides leadership development, mentoring, and performance feedback to ensure professional growth and accountability.

Promotes a positive, engaged, and student-oriented team culture.

Ensures case management distribution and quality of service delivery.

Engagement and Collaboration

Serves as a liaison with community partners, state and federal agencies, and other external stakeholders.

Collaborates across university divisions and academic units.

Develops and delivers educational programs, presentations, and faculty consultations to increase awareness.

Responds to inquiries from students, families, and faculty regarding DSS programs and accommodations.

Represents DSS on university and divisional committees, contributing to institutional initiatives related to student success and accessibility.

Other Responsibilities

Serve on university committees and working groups.

Performs other duties as assigned to support the mission and goals of the Division of Student Affairs and the University.

Organizational Placement

Reports to : Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students,

Supervises : Professional staff and student employees within the Office of Disability Support Services.

Required Education and Experience :

Master's degree in Special Education, Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or Rehabilitation, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Ten (10) year's of related experience.

Preferred Education and Experience :

Ten (10) years of progressively responsible providing services to individuals with disabilities, including related supervisory experience.

Previous experience working with disability support programs and services, including providing accommodations, advocacy, or guidance to students with disabilities in educational or community settings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

Knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAAA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended and other applicable Federal and State laws.

Ability to determine appropriate academic accommodations for university students with disabilities.

Ability to determine appropriate assistive technology accommodations for university students with disabilities.

Ability to interpret standard psychological assessments and diagnostic methods for use in determining accommodations.

Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others. Strong verbal and written communication skills.