Program Coordinator, Disability Services

**Schedule**
35 hours per week, M-F 8:30am-4:30pm, evenings and weekends as needed.

**Education Level**
Masters degree in Occupational Therapy Education, Psychology or Counselling and/or a relevant disability related field such as rehabilitation services.

**Career Level**
Requires a minimum 3 years of relevant experience.

**Unit/Project Description**:
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is part of the Student Affairs portfolio. SAS provides individualized services to students with disabilities with an integrated support structure, including the facilitation of academic accommodations, programming, and support services. SAS works closely with faculty and other stakeholders within the University.

**Job Summary**:
Responsible for overseeing and delivering continuing and/ or temporary disability related education and academic accommodations, holistic support, and supportive counselling services to students with a wide range of disabilities. Perform assessment of students’ needs for the purpose of implementing academic accommodations suitable for the learning environment. Assist with access to funding supports. Complies with institutional policies and procedures, provincial and federal regulatory and statutory requirements and demonstrates and applies principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

**Purpose and Key Functions**:

- Provide on-going supportive counselling and advocacy supports to students with disabilities and refer students to appropriate holistic university and community support systems and services as necessary.
- Conduct individualized and in-depth accommodation-related assessments and interviews with current and prospective students, parents/ guardians, resource supports, etc.to determine the most appropriate academic accommodations required and the duration (i.e., a temporary accommodation or a continuing).
- Conduct intakes and regular re-assessments, to determine the academic, educational and other disability related needs of students and screen/ assess functional limitations related to temporary and permanent disabilities. Complete analyses and interpretation of evaluation data obtained regarding disability services within the University.
- Respond to students’ crises, escalation of symptoms, emergencies and urgent situations to best meet student and University identified needs. Use professional judgment to respond to signs of psychological distress, including signs of suicide risk or suicide ideation.
- Develop, coordinate, implement and monitor appropriate individual disability-related (academic accommodation) education plans for students with disabilities.
- Using a strengths-based approach, counsel students on health issues related to their learning and the effects of their disability and provide them with learning strategies to support.
- Provide case management support to students requiring coordination of multiple services. Arrange, coordinate and schedule the provision of support services including, but not limited to, note takers, interpreters, captioners, and other appropriate resources.
- Ensure, and follow-up as necessary, on individual student disability-related education plans and accommodations, to ensure equitable access is arranged for students.
- Regularly review and assess documentation (including medical / psychological documentation) from a variety of sources, as it relates to the determination of appropriate academic accommodations.
- Consult with health care providers or other university officials to assist the University in meeting its human rights obligations.
- Provide input into the design and delivery of all student accessibility services to students including, but not limited to, assistive technologies, learning strategies, transition, test and exam administration, clinical or practicum site accommodations, alternative format or captioning / describing audio-visual materials, etc.
- Research and recommend alternative approaches and possible accommodation solutions as part of the duty to accommodate.
- Work in collaboration with Faculty advisors, staff and other campus professionals regarding academic and disability-related services and needs of students.
- Follow best practices, manage conflicts between university policies and student needs, deal with issues of disclosure, follow provincial and federal regulations, related to privacy / confidentiality and promote the need for atypical accommodation.
- Follow recommended guidelines, systems, prescribed and non-prescribed processes when supporting and documenting student interactions and accommodation plans.
- Participate as prescribed in Crisis Response situations as required by the University’s official crisis response plan.
- Develop and deliver presentations, seminars and workshops on campus to the University community to facilitate awareness of disability issues, attitudes, and provide coaching and advice.
- Recommend allocation of resources and support systems by academic and adm