Disability Specialist (Part-time)- Grant Funded

Milwaukee Area Technical College; Mequon (WI); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Milwaukee Area Technical College Mequon Campus seeks a part-time Disability Services Support Specialist. This role assists students with disabilities by providing accommodations, coordinates placement, and liaises with faculty and staff to ensure accessible MATC programs.

The grant-funded position runs through 06/30/2027, with 19 hours per week. In-person work, Mequon campus, starts immediately; requires experience with assistive technologies and strong collaboration skills.

Qualifications

• Required 90 approved college course credits in job-related area.
• Three years of work experience serving the needs of individuals who are disabled.
• Ability to work with diverse student populations and campus partners.

Responsibilities

• Assists current and former students with disabilities by providing accommodations under the ADA.
• Designs, modifies and adapts supplemental instruction to meet student needs.
• Acts as liaison between faculty, staff and students and coordinates appropriate academic placement.
• Proctors tests and quizzes with accommodations and documents services provided.
• Maintains detailed student records required by funding sources and reports.

Skills

Assistive technology knowledge

Student advising

Independent worker

Education

90 approved college credits

Tools

JAWS

ZoomText

Kurzweil 3000/Firefly

Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Google Voice

Job description

Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) is Wisconsin's largest and most diverse technical college, offering 170+ high-quality programs that connect students to a career in as little as one to two years. The college also offers a less expensive path to a four-year degree. MATC is transforming lives, industry and our community by preparing students today for the careers of tomorrow. Together, we are meeting the needs of the community we share and are focused on students with the greatest needs. We are seeking passionate individuals to join our team who shares the same passion in serving this purpose. Learn more about MATC at www.matc.edu.

One (1) part-time vacancy at our Mequon Campus : This is a grant-funded position with an end date of 06/30/2027. Funding for this position is contingent upon the terms of the grant.

Under general supervision, assists current and former students with disabilities by providing accommodations in accordance with Section 504(e) of the ADA to achieve personal, educational and professional goals. Provides educational support MATC Learning Center; enables accessibility to MATC programs and services for students with exceptional educational needs; acts as liaison between faculty, staff, and students. Works with an assigned program or location and recommends appropriate academic placement, skill assessment, and registration in MATC courses. Exercises judgment and discretion utilizing established policies and procedures as part of a support service team. Works independently to devise, modify, and adapt situations and make decisions to meet the needs of students with exceptional educational requirements. Supervision received is general in nature with standardized practices that enable the employee to perform independently, referring unusual situations to the supervisor for advice.

• Determines factors and conditions that promotes individual learning.
• Designs, modifies, and adapts supplemental instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
• Interprets and/or clarifies classroom instruction.
• Teaches test taking strategies, study skills, comprehension skills, memory techniques, time management, research methods, and computer skills.
• Informs instructors of alternative strategies of instruction when teaching students with disabilities.
• Monitors student progress, concerns, or issues impacting their education. Assists with problem solving skills and methods to solve or mediate issues. Provides information school services information (Counseling and Advising, emergency funds), community services (food pantries, housing assistance, mental health services), government services (Social Security, Department of Vocational Rehabilitation) and natural support. Help students develop an action plan to access needed services.
• Provides customized academic support to individual EEN students and/or small groups in areas such as composition, reading comprehension, and other areas.
• Proctors tests and quizzes in all disciplines and programs with accommodations. Interprets test instructions and questions while avoiding unfair test advantages consistent with needs accommodations.
• Serves as liaison between students and instructors, other MATC programs and services, community agencies, such as: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Goodwill Industry, and Center for Independence; high schools and community agencies.
• Generates and maintains detailed individual student records required by funding sources.
• Documents and reports note taking and tutoring arrangements; records time and pay sheets and other services provided.
• Explains career sheets and/or program information to students ensuring understanding of program requirements and career opportunities at MATC.
• Advises students on selected program enrollment requirements and procedures, including financial aid information.
• Assists developing class schedules of required classes, course availability, program changes, filled programs/classes, etc. for students.
• Attends in-service training, workshops, and other education activities as required or assigned.
• Performs other related duties as required for the efficient operations of the division.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Required 90 approved college course credits in job-related area. Secondary Education, Special Education, Adult Education, Psychology, Social Work, Counseling Psychology, Counseling, and Vocational Rehabilitation.
• Three (3) years of work experience serving the needs of individuals who are disabled or any equivalent combination of training and occupational experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, Special Education, Adult Education, Psychology, Social Work, Counseling Psychology, Counseling, and Vocational Rehabilitation.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of experience serving the needs of individuals who are disabled or any equivalent combination of training and occupational experience.
• Special Education; Certified Social Worker; CPR/First Aid Certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of instructional and related procedures for students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of various categories of learning styles of students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of computers, common software programs, internet navigation, as well as specialized applications such as JAWS, and Zoomtext, for visual impairment, Kurzweil 3000 / Firefly for a variety of Specific Learning Disabilities, Dragon Naturally Speaking, and Google Voice for speech to text entry, and other adaptive equipment like FM systems, Smart pens, Plextalk, etc.
• Ability to teach students with disabilities from diverse backgrounds and with different needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students with disabilities, faculty, community agencies, other MATC students and staff, and the general public.
• Ability to design, modify and adapt supplemental instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
• Ability to use judgment, discretion, and decision making skills in dealing with confidential and sensitive issues.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a support service team or to work equally as well independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively through both oral and written means.
• Ability to understand and support teacher-student relationships.
• Ability to convert textbooks (Word, PDF files) to Accessible format using Kurzweil, Adobe Pro Abbyy Finereader, etc.
• Ability to support use of assistive software and technology such as Jaws; Windoweyes; Kurzweil; Dragon Naturally Speaking; Wynn Software, CCTV's; talking calculators; magnification devices, etc.
• Must possess a high caliber of customer services skills in order to establish and maintain effective working relationships with MATC staff, faculty, students, representatives from outside agencies, business community and the general public.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and promote a positive working environment.
• Demonstrated ability to create, structure, and deliver public presentations to a variety of groups.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, and as a team member.
• Ability to access and disseminate information using computers and proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Competencies

• Cultivates innovation
• Optimizes work processes
• Ensures accountability
• Collaborates
• Interpersonal savvy
• Communicates effectively
• Instills trust
• Customer focus
• Action oriented
• Values differences
• Self-development
• Compassion

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs., carry, and push up to 20 lbs. and ability pull up to 50 lbs
• Ability to climb stairs and a ladder and maintain balance.
• Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, hear and speak.
• Sitting/Standing/Walking: 75% of time spent sitting, 20% of time standing, and 5% of time walking.

Start Date: This position supports the Student Engagement & Community Impact Department and is available to start immediately.

This is a grant-funded position. Funding for this position is contingent upon the terms of the grant. This position is funded through 06/30/2027.

Hours: This position is a part-time position and works 19 hours a week.

Work Schedule and Location: 8am to 1pm- Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday and 8am to 12pm on Thursday. In-person at the Mequon Campus. All work must be performed in the State of Wisconsin.

Compensation: Hourly pay rates are listed up to the midpoint of the range and placement is determined based on years of experience, internal equity, and a review of the applicant's employment and educational background as listed on the job application.

EEO: Milwaukee Area Technical College will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant for admission on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, creed, religion, political affiliation, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, disability, age, membership in any reserve component of the armed forces, union affiliation, arrest and conviction record, or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and need special accommodation for the application process, please contact our office at 414-297-6529 (Wisconsin Relay System: 711) or email [e-mail].