You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Assistant Director of Disability Resources

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Email

Assistant Director of Disability Resources

 

About Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts:
 

At MCLA, we're here for all, and focused on each of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 11 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2026. The College's focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2026 U.S. News rankings: No. 6 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 4 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu

 


Job Description:
 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The Assistant Director of Disability Resources is the lead for the Assistive Technology Center, addressing assistive technology needs and assistive technology access plans for MCLA students with disabilities, investigating new assistive technologies, maintaining the center's inventory, and providing training to students and faculty. The Assistant Director fosters an inclusive environment, coordinates, guides and collaborates on student accommodation as applied to curricular and co-curricular contexts, the first-year student transition program, and the notetaking program. The Assistant Director is an ambassador of the office and serves as an integral member of the Disability Resources team regarding student-facing priorities, compliance with the ADA/504, strategic planning, data collection, daily operations, committee work, and special projects.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Reports directly to the Director of Disability Resources

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Supervises paraprofessional staff and student workers.

DETAILED STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide students with orientation to disability resources.

  • Interpret and evaluate student medical and educational documentation to ensure students qualify for reasonable and appropriate accommodations and services. Determine eligibility and coordinate access to accommodations and services for students with disabilities.
  • Maintain specialized knowledge of various disabilities and how they affect learning, and college persistence. 
  • Collaborate and make referrals to appropriate academic services and supports such as TRIO support services, academic support and advising, and counseling. Make referrals to outside agencies as needed.
  • Generate and timely update student records, utilizing college policies, technology, and archival systems. Keep the Director up to date on trends and flag issues that benefit from additional consultation.
  • May assume referral tasks from CARE Team on students with disabilities needing additional coordinated support.

Oversee all aspects of the Assistive Technology Center. 

  • Assess the needs of students registered with the office regarding the use of technology and alternate forms of course materials.
  • Oversee and manage assistive technology, and student accommodations and services for students with disabilities.
  • Provide individual and group instruction and training for students with disabilities in the use of Assistive/Adaptive Technology, i.e. Voice-to-Text software, Live Scribe pens, Screen Readers, Screen magnifiers, Adaptive Keyboards, and more. Assist students in person with installing/updating/troubleshooting assistive technology software and hardware.
  • Support students in requesting books in alternate format from approved vendors/publishers as required for students who need this accommodation.
  • Coordinate Live Scribe notetaking pen and audio recorder loan programs. Perform maintenance and inventory of all equipment
  • Evaluate, research, recommend purchasing new hardware and software to stay current with new advances in the field.
  • Responsible for the maintenance of all assistive technology and equipment for the Mark Hopkins computer lab. Explore and advance accommodations with emerging assistive technologies which may benefit MCLA learners.
  • Collaborate with MCLA's Office of Academic Technology and various off campus community partners to support the technology needs of MCLA students.  
  • Organize the annual AT summit.

Provide success coaching to students with disabilities.

  • Administer and interpret the Learning and Study Skills Assessment (LASSI)
  • Coach and present to students around learning, study, self-management strategies, and goal setting.
  • Refer students to other sources of information, such as career services, department chairs and faculty members, the writing studio, and the math drop-in and tutoring centers.
  • Provide general pre-advising and academic support to students.

Coordinate class notes for students with notetaking accommodation.

  • Arrange for peer note takers to meet student requests as requested.
  • Provide training of student notetakers on the scanning of classroom notes and other materials using Microsoft Lens or other approved apps.

Represent the Office of Disability Resources.

  • Proactively collaborate with TRiO SSS on shared priorities for students with disabilities.
  • Serve as an ambassador of the office, on campus-wide committees and workgroups, and as a student advocate.
  • Prepare ongoing data analysis and write summary materials to be included in semi-annual/annual reports.

 


Requirements:
 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Master's Degree with (3) or more years of experience in a similar capacity, preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience in the interpretation of psycho-educational diagnostic evaluations and data.
  • In depth knowledge of assistive technology, accessibility issues, and experience in training in the use of assistive technologies.
  • Experience working with students with disabilities in an educational setting, preferably in higher ed.
  • Experience arranging and implementing accommodations for students such as accessible course materials.
  • Strong verbal and written interpersonal communication skills, as well as the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a range of constituencies including faculty and administrators
  • Ability to relate to individuals of diverse abilities and backgrounds

 


Additional Information:
 

This is a full-time, permanent, benefitted position within the APA Union. Salary for this position is $58,500-$61,500/year.

Until further notice, in response to the Presidential proclamation, issued on September 19, 2025, imposing a significant fee on the entry of individuals with new H-1B visas, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should you need to request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of Human Resources. 

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed to fostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricular and employment opportunities for all applicants, students, and employees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that they operate, which extends to admission and employment.  

Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and other non-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both. 

Lucas Morrill
Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator 
375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247 
Telephone: (413) 662-5103
Titleix@mcla.edu 

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights  
33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424  
Telephone: (617) 289-0111; FAX: (617) 289-0150; TDD (877) 521-2172  
OCR.Boston@ed.gov