Senior Instructional Designer, Digital Accessibility

Description

The Senior Instructional Designer, Digital Accessibility supports the university’s commitment to digitally accessible, high‑quality Distance Education by partnering with faculty and staff to design, review, and improve accessible online and hybrid learning experiences. This position provides expert guidance on instructional design best practices, digital accessibility standards, and instructional technologies, with a particular focus on compliance with applicable accessibility laws and quality frameworks.

The position collaborates closely with faculty, the Distance Education team, and campus stakeholders to review and remediate instructional materials, validate accessibility through functional testing, document compliance efforts, and develop scalable resources that promote accessible course design. Through consultation, training, and continuous improvement initiatives, this role helps ensure that digital learning environments are usable, equitable, and effective for all learners.

• Provide consultive support to faculty on effective instructional design practices, instructional technologies, and digital accessibility principles to enhance the quality and usability of online learning environments.
• Educate, mentor, and train faculty and staff on digital accessibility best practices, including the creation, selection, and remediation of accessible instructional materials, multimedia, and assessments.
• Conduct comprehensive reviews of online and hybrid courses using established quality standards and digital accessibility guidelines, including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
• Collaborate with faculty to remediate existing instructional materials and vet new content for accessibility, usability, and compliance, ensuring all digital course components meet or exceed applicable WCAG requirements.
• Validate digital accessibility through functional testing, including the use of assistive technologies where appropriate, to ensure instructional materials are usable by users with disabilities.
• Facilitate, document, and track the course review and remediation process, maintaining detailed records for compliance and reporting needs.
• Manage instructional design and accessibility support requests and projects using a ticketing system, ensuring timely resolution, effective prioritization, and proactive communication with stakeholders.
• Advise university stakeholders on the accessibility of digital course materials, including guidance related to the adoption or use of third‑party tools and content within the LMS.
• Monitor and support institutional compliance related to Distance Education regulations, digital accessibility laws (including Section 508 and ADA), and applicable university policies, in coordination with the Distance Education team and campus partners.
• Collaborate with Distance Education team members to optimize instructional technology configurations and learning environment settings for accessibility, functionality, and overall learner experience.
• Stay current on emerging trends, technologies, and legal requirements related to instructional design and digital accessibility, and proactively share relevant knowledge with the university community.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of instructional design principles and best practices for online and hybrid learning environments.
• Knowledge of digital accessibility standards and regulations applicable to higher education, including WCAG, ADA Title II, and Section 508.
• Knowledge of accessibility best practices for digital instructional materials, including documents, multimedia, and assessments.
• Knowledge of learning management systems and instructional technologies used in Distance Education.
• Knowledge of Universal Design for Learning principles.

• Skill in reviewing online and hybrid courses and providing clear, actionable feedback to improve instructional quality, digital accessibility, and usability.
• Skill in remediating digital instructional materials to meet established accessibility standards.
• Skill in consulting with faculty and staff in a collaborative, supportive manner that…