Lead Access Specialist - Disability Resource Center

Opt For Healthy Living; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 66,528 - 77,951; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan participation

Educational benefits

Job summary

A leading educational institution in San Luis Obispo seeks a Lead Access Specialist. Responsibilities include evaluating student needs and advising them on appropriate accommodations for disabilities. Candidates should have significant counseling experience and a strong understanding of relevant laws. The role offers a salary range of $66,528 - $77,951 per year and provides comprehensive benefits like health insurance and retirement options. This position is essential in fostering an inclusive academic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven counseling experience in disability management and accommodations assessment.
• Experience interpreting medical and educational assessments.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with students of diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate student needs and advise on disability management.
• Develop solutions to integrate accessibility across the campus.
• Communicate program needs with faculty and community organizations.

Skills

Counseling experience

Sensitivity to diversity issues

Analytical ability

Knowledge of disability-related laws

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, or Social Work

Job description

Lead Access Specialist - Disability Resource Center

Apply now Job no: 553648
Work type: Staff
Location: Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo Campus
Categories: Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California, Probationary, Full Time, Student Services, Telecommute eligible (work onsite as scheduled and/or as requested and telecommute as scheduled)

Job Summary

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Director of the Disability Resource Center, the position is responsible for: a) independently evaluating student needs; advising students regarding disability management; determining appropriate accommodations and services for students with temporary and permanent disabilities; b) assisting in the development of creative solutions which integrate accessibility approaches across organizational lines; and c) effectively communicating the needs of the program and its student-clients, through interaction and coordination with faculty, staff, students, and community organizations.

Department Summary

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) implements Federal and State laws by providing support services and academic accommodations to students with disabilities. Services include but are not limited to: disability management; alternative testing; accessible technology; transportation; document conversion, note-taking, and information about community resources. Students served include those with learning, psychological, physical and sensory disabilities.

Key Qualifications

• Proven counseling experience in areas of disability management and accommodations assessment.
• Demonstrated experience in using a high degree of tact and persuasiveness to maintain effective and cooperative relationships while working with students with varied disabilities.
• Demonstrated sensitivity of diversity issues as well as the ability to work with an ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse campus community of students, staff and faculty.
• Experience in determining the most challenging services and special accommodations when documentation is not “clear-cut” or where guidelines do not exist. Experience interpreting medical, psychological and psycho-educational assessments to determine functional limitations and appropriate accommodations.
• Ability to analyze program processes, identify complex problems, and recommend course of action for challenging individual, group and program-wide problems.
• Thorough knowledge of disability-related laws and the provision of services to students with disabilities (e.g., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, ADA, FHA, IDEA 2004 and CSU 1111).

Education and Experience

• Equivalent to graduation from a four‑year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper‑division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution. Three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience.
• A master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience.
• A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range: $66,528 - $77,951 Per Year

Classification Range: $66,480 - $94,716 Per Year

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best‑in‑class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally‑ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top‑tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands‑on philosophy, small class sizes and close student‑faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu .

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Positions are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days.

Advertised: Mar 29 2026 Pacific Daylight Time

Applications close: