Disability Specialist

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition assistance

Facilities access

LinkedIn Learning

Calm App subscription

Newspaper/WSJ-Economist-NYT access

Bookstore discount

Event perks

Job summary

Butler University is seeking a Disability Specialist to support students with disabilities as they transition to college, review documentation, and determine individualized accommodations. The role emphasizes collaboration with faculty and campus partners to implement accessible services and programming.

Responsibilities include direct student support, training on accommodations, data analysis to improve processes, and development of disability-awareness programming.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, social work, psychology, or a related field
• Experience providing direct support and training to people with disabilities
• Ability to interpret disability-related documentation (IEP/504, medical reports)
• Knowledge of ADA and Section 504 in postsecondary education
• Ability to rapidly master and integrate new software
• Willingness to engage with diversity, equity, inclusion, and intersectionality
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

• Interpret documentation and lead intake meetings to determine accommodations
• Maintain rigorous documentation and confidentiality
• Provide direct support services including academic coaching and transition to college
• Collaborate with SDS team and campus partners on accommodations and support
• Develop and implement disability/diversity programming and materials
• Analyze disability-related data to improve processes
• Support accommodation requests for extracurricular activities
• Design department marketing materials and manage social media
• Participate on campus-wide committees to advance accessibility
• Serve as administrative backup in the department

Skills

Strong communication

Interpersonal skills

Discretion and confidentiality

Multiplatform proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in higher education, social work, psychology, or related field

Job description

Position Overview

Disability Specialists work one-on-one to provide support to students with disabilities as they navigate the transition to college and the independence of being a college student. In this role, Disability Specialists review documentation and make individualized determinations of reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities. Butler University’s SDS Office is unique in that Disability Specialists are also available to provide support to students regarding the myriads of ways their disability may impact them throughout their time as a Butler student. Several primary functions of this position include individualized student support, development and presentation of disability-awareness programming across campus, and close collaboration with faculty and other campus partners.

Note: Please submit a cover letter with your application that highlights how your skills and experiences have prepared you to work with students with disabilities on the college level, what draws you to this position, and what you would need to learn to be successful in this role.

Responsibilities

• Interpret disability-related documentation and lead intake meetings with families and students to determine and implement reasonable accommodations
• Maintain rigorous documentation of student interactions and uphold the highest standards of confidentiality and professional discretion
• Provide direct support services to students, including academic coaching, support with the transition to college, and training on accommodation-related software; monitor and track the progress of SDS-registered students in support of retention efforts; respond to and resolve student and faculty concerns
• Collaborate closely with SDS team members and other relevant campus partners on a regular basis to coordinate and implement accommodations & support services
• Develop and implement disability/diversity-based programming, presentations, training guides, and materials for public consumption
• Analyze disability-related data for the improvement of departmental processes and procedures, assist in the development of policies and procedural documents as needed
• Support students requesting accommodations for extra-curricular activities such as Greek Life recruitment and off-campus study
• Design and create department marketing materials, including but not limited to office bulletin boards, flyers, web content; manage social media accounts
• Serve on campus-wide committees, as assigned, to ensure accessibility is on the forefront of campus conversations
• Serve as an administrative backup in the department asneeded

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, social work, psychology, or a related field
• Experience providing direct support and training to people with disabilities
• Ability to interpret disability-related documentation, including but not limited to neuropsychological evaluations, medical reports and treatment plans, and IEP and 504 documents
• Knowledge regarding how the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act apply to postsecondary education
• Proven ability to rapidly master and integrate new software into daily workflows; demonstrates high agility when navigating multiple digital platforms simultaneously
• Willingness to engage and learn about diversity, equity, inclusion, and intersectionality of identities in disability services
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills

Ability to exercise excellent judgment and decision-making skillsunder pressure or in uncertain situations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education

BU Benefits and Perks

Please check out Butler’sTotal Rewards website to learn more about our benefit offerings, which include:

• Paid Time Off and Holidays :
  • 20 days of paid time off (vacation and PTO days) per Fiscal year
  • 8 Paid Holidays
    • In addition, a paid Winter Break between Christmas Eve and NewYear’s Day
  • Paid Parental Leave (after 1 year of full-time employment)
• Health :
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans including disability and life insurance programs
• Retirement :
  • 10% employer contribution after 1 year of full-time employment
• Tuition Assistance :
  • Tuition Exchange Program for Dependents
  • Remission of tuition for classes taken at Butler for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
    • Eligibility after 9 months of full-time employment
    • Employees & spouses- undergraduate/graduate degrees
    • Dependents (under age 26)- undergraduate degree
    • Covers tuition only
• Butler Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks :
  • Access to Butler’s on-site fitness facility and libraries forfull-time staff and faculty
  • LinkedIn Learning Courses
  • Free premium subscription to the Calm App
  • Free subscription to the WSJ, The Economist, and NYT
  • Discount at the College Bookstore
  • Discount on select Athletic and Arts/Events CenterPerformances

About Us

Butler University is a private, nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing seven colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Pharmacy & Health Sciences and Founder's College. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and doctoral students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 24 countries.

Join us at the crossroads of tradition & transformation. A career at Butler University offers more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to join a dedicated, innovative, and supportive community grounded in equity, academic excellence, and meaningful impact. Aligned with Boldly Butler, our strategic plan, faculty and staff play a vital role in delivering transformational learning experiences, enriching our campus and community, and ensuring a thriving Butler for generations to come.

Butler University is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, color, disability, protected veteran status, national origin, or any other legally protected category.