Disability Service Professional

Disability Service Professional (DSP)

Work type: Full-time
Location: UConn Storrs
Categories: Student Programs and Services

Under the general supervision of the Associate Director for the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at the Storrs campus, the Disability Service Professional (DSP) engages in the interactive process with students requesting accommodations, their faculty and campus staff to determine if the student is considered a student with disability and if so, reasonable and appropriate academic and residential accommodations. This position coordinates accommodations and services for students with permanent and/or temporary disabilities to ensure that all University programs, activities, and services are accessible.

The successful candidate will work with a fair amount of independence, within the goals and objectives established by the CSD. The incumbent will be sensitive to and have an understanding of the diverse academic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds of UConn students and staff while establishing and maintaining a positive working relationship with constituents and colleagues. The DSP assists in ensuring that all University entities comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and other relevant state and federal legislation.

• Manages an assigned caseload of students with permanent and/or temporary disabilities by engaging in the interactive process with students, faculty and staff as indicated.
• Collects and interprets medical and educational documentation for assigned caseload to determine disability and to identify reasonable and appropriate accommodations on a course-by-course basis; determines appropriate and effective accommodations, which do not fundamentally alter the program of study.
• Documents engagement through detailed notes in the interactive process with students, faculty and staff in the determination and coordination of accommodations in CSD’s database.
• Collaborates with Accommodations and Assistive Technology accommodation teams to ensure that approved academic accommodations are coordinated with students, faculty and staff. The coordination of accommodations may include: testing accommodations, provision of assistive technology and auxiliary aids, recruitment/hiring readers and/or scribes, alternate media, captioning, etc.
• Oversees activities in collaboration with other departments across the campus to ensure equal opportunity for access to academic and co‑curricular programs at the University for assigned students.
• Makes recommendations to faculty, staff and departments regarding the University’s academic and programmatic obligations under the law and University guidelines for students with disabilities; collaborates with appropriate campus constituents regarding scholastic probation, dismissal, extension of academic deadlines, readmission, withdrawal from the University, etc.
• Serves as a liaison and a resource for students with disabilities; provides information to students regarding their legal rights and responsibilities; collaborates and consults with faculty and staff regarding academic accommodations, compliance with legal responsibilities, as well as instructional, programmatic and curriculum modifications.
• Coordinates outreach to incoming and prospective students and their family members when indicated regarding accommodations and services offered; communicates information regarding program activities and services to the campus community.
• Collaborates with program staff in the outreach and coordination of the enhanced services program, Beyond Access.
• Conducts in‑service training for campus faculty, staff and the administration to promote understanding and increase awareness of the needs and concerns of students with disabilities.
• Interviews, hires, trains and supervises graduate students to coordinate accommodations; assigns tasks and sets work priorities; evaluates performance.
• Collects and analyzes data regarding the caseload of students and accommodations coordination; prepares reports related to CSD services.
• Contr…