Associate Director for Disability Support Services

Bowie State University; Bowie (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowie State University is seeking an Associate Director of Disability Support Services to lead compliance with state and federal accessibility laws, including Section 504, ADA, and ADAA. The role provides strategic leadership to advance equitable access, inclusive design, and accommodations for students with disabilities to participate fully in campus life.

Responsibilities include coordinating accommodations, staffing, policy development, collaborating with faculty and IT, and keeping current

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in a related field.
• Experience in planning and developing program goals and objectives.
• Experience with budgetary and fiscal planning within constraints.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and communication channels.
• Experience working with diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to deliver presentations to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership to ensure access for students with disabilities to all programs, services, and campus activities.
• Oversees accessibility accommodations and support services for students.
• Develops and implements policies promoting accessibility and inclusion across the institution.
• Hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates Disability Support Services staff.
• Collaborates with faculty and campus partners to implement approved accommodations.
• Advises on assistive technologies and digital accessibility initiatives.

Skills

Program goals planning

Budget planning

Public speaking

Diversity & inclusion

Communication skills

Multitasking

Education

Master’s degree or higher in related field

Job description

The Associate Director of Disability Support Services is responsible for ensuring institutional compliance with a broad range of state and federal accessibility and disability-related laws and regulations, including:

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA)

The Associate Director provides strategic leadership to advance equitable access, inclusive design, and accommodation services, ensuring that students with disabilities have full and equal access to university programs, services, and activities.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides leadership to Bowie State University in maintaining compliance with federal and state accessibility and disability laws and regulations by coordinating and ensuring access for students with disabilities to all academic programs, services, and campus activities
• Provides administrative oversight for all accessibility accommodations and support services for students
• Leads the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and practices that promote accessibility and inclusion across the institution
• Hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates Disability Support Services staff
• Collaborates with faculty, staff, and campus partners to ensure effective implementation of approved accommodations
• Educates, assists, and provides guidance to the campus community on disability access, accessibility best practices, and inclusive design principles
• Serves as a campus resource on assistive technologies and accessibility tools
• Partners with Information Technology, procurement, and compliance offices to support institutional digital accessibility initiatives, including:
  • alignment with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
  • review and identification of systemic digital accessibility barriers
  • integration of accessibility considerations into procurement and implementation of digital tools
• Provides input on the impact of digital accessibility barriers on students and contributes to prioritization of remediation efforts
• Collaborates with the Digital Accessibility Compliance Manager (or equivalent role) to ensure coordination between accommodation services and system-wide accessibility compliance efforts
• Monitors trends, regulations, and best practices related to accessibility in higher education and makes recommendations for institutional improvement

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Social Work, Special Education, Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated experience in planning and developing program goals and objectives
• Experience applying budgetary and fiscal planning techniques within financial constraints
• Ability to deliver effective presentations to diverse audiences
• Experience working with individuals of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and communication channels (phone, email, in-person, etc.)
• Demonstrated skills in task management, conflict resolution, and mediation

Ability to

• Analyze complex problems, identify solutions, and take appropriate action using sound judgment
• Maintain and enforce strict confidentiality related to sensitive and protected information
• Communicate effectively across various formats, including presentations, consultations, meetings, and written communications

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience coordinating accessibility services for students with disabilities in a postsecondary setting
• Minimum of three years of supervisory experience
• Demonstrated experience interpreting ADA and Section 504 regulations in the context of higher education accommodations
• Experience collaborating with faculty to ensure appropriate implementation of accommodations

Knowledge of

• Legal and ethical considerations in accessibility and accommodation processes in higher education
• Assistive technologies and accommodations used by students in academic environments
• National organizations and professional standards in accessibility and disability services