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Mercy University’s Office of Accessibility welcomes students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities. Office of Accessibility values disability as integral to our rich diversity and provides leadership to University efforts to ensure an accessible, inclusive welcoming learning and working environment for individuals with disabilities while complying with federal and state regulations.

The Office of Accessibility serves as a central resource on disability-related information, procedures and services for the University community and provides expertise in the development, implementation, and acquisition of best and promising disability-related University practices, procedures and resources.

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Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Health and Wellness, the Director of University Accessibility Services will provide strategic direction as well as daily oversight and review related to the administration and implementation of accessibility and accommodations services for students, faculty, staff and visitors with disabilities, religious accommodations as well accommodations for parenting and pregnant students, faculty and staff.  They will facilitate equal access to campus facilities, and accessibility and accommodation services for the curriculum, programs, activities and employment pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Fair Housing Act, New York State Human Rights Law, other federal and state laws and University policies pertaining to persons with disabilities, pregnancy and parenting and religion. They will also review appeals of accommodations for faculty, staff and students and make final determinations.

The Director of Accessibility Services will lead a team of staff to ensure the provision and implementation of academic adjustments, auxiliary aides, and reasonable accommodations in the employment context.  The Director of Accessibility Services will manage the administration and stewardship of University-wide resources and services for students and other campus community members and visitors with disabilities and other accommodation needs.

This is an essential onsite role that requires occasional weekend and late evenings hours during times of peak operational volume.  Some hybrid work options may be considered.

Responsibilities

• This role involves coordinating efforts to make programs, services, and facilities accessible to students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities, and to review religious accommodations as well as accommodations for pregnant and parenting students and employees. The role typically includes managing requests for academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and reasonable accommodations, developing and implementing policies, and providing training to staff. 

• Ensuring Compliance: Overseeing and coordinating the organization's efforts to comply with the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, New York State Human Rights Law, and other relevant disability and accommodation laws and University policies.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Managing requests for reasonable accommodations from students, faculty, staff, or visitors.
• Policy Development: Developing and implementing policies related to compliance with University accommodation requests, including accessibility standards and procedures for handling accommodation requests. 
• Training: Providing training to faculty and staff on requirements relating to University accommodations policies, including how to identify and address accessibility barriers. 
• Accessibility Assessments: Conducting or overseeing assessments of facilities, programs, and services to identify and address accessibility barriers. 
• Documentation and Reporting: Maintaining records of accommodation requests, compliance efforts, and other relevant data in a timely manner. 
• Communication and Collaboration: Working with various stakeholders and partners throughout the college, including individuals with disabilities, staff, management, and external agencies, to ensure effective accommodations implementation. 

• Managing the department's budget, personnel decisions and annual staff evaluations.
• Oversee the hiring of proctors, sign interpreters, and other specialists as needed.
• Other duties as may be assigned.  May require travel to other campuses as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the provision of services for students with disabilities and reasonable accommodations for employees, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Proven management and leadership skills to lead, motivate and influence at all levels.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the complex laws, policies, and best practices applicable to the full range of disability and access services in higher education, such as ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Fair Housing Act, and Universal Design principles.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing medical documentation to determine eligibility for academic and non-academic accommodation requests.
• Must be highly organized and detail-oriented with proven ability to exercise astute judgment and make sound decisions when consulting with senior level administrators, faculty, as well as parents, and other key stakeholders.
• Outstanding problem-solving, critical thinking, and organizational skills, with ability to work in a fast-paced environment where urgent situations often arise.
• Ability to successfully negotiate complex systems and work in a decentralized academic environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, strategic, and relationship management skills are required.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of working with students of diverse backgrounds, academic performance, and disabilities; experience with both traditional and non-traditional students.
• Ability to work with confidential, highly sensitive information.
• Must be able to handle a high-volume workload, manage concurrent demands and multiple stakeholders, and work as part of a team.
• Substantial flexibility; flexibility in schedule including some evening and weekend hours.  May include travel to other campuses.