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IT Accessibility Specialist

Amherst College

Amherst, MA,USA

This job is expired.

Amherst College invites applications for the IT Accessibility Specialist position. The IT Accessibility Specialist is a full-time, 52 week per year position, job group and level PT-2. The IT Accessibility Specialist provides campus-wide solutions, instruction, and guidance in the area of accessible technology to students, faculty, and staff with the goal of equal access to information for all users of all abilities. The specialist provides guidance on universal accessibility of electronic and information technology (EIT), recommends processes and guidelines for EIT compliance with institutional and government requirements, and oversees the conversion of materials and media to accessible formats, and supports students in the use of assistive technology.

The Specialist takes appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participates in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Key Responsibilities

Accessibility Coordination

Serve as primary expert and resource for the campus in providing accessible technology, including software, hardware, web-based applications, and documents
Conduct and coordinate reviews of potential EIT products and services for accessibility compliance. Organize remediation projects, and coordinate outsourcing as needed
Coordinate, communicate, and consult with students, departmental leadership, faculty, and staff to support their efforts in providing accessible EIT
Organize and prioritize accessibility requirements for procurement and communicate with vendors, content owners, application owners, and stakeholders to ensure accessibility of new EIT
Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in accessible technology
Accessible Materials Development

Fulfill alternative format accommodation requests for students requiring accessible course materials
Oversee the conversion of academic and administrative documents and print materials to an accessible format
Oversee video captioning or other accessible media services. Coordinate outsourcing of captioning as needed
Coordinate alternative access plans for materials or technology used in the classroom
Assistive Technology Support

Provide support, training and outreach to students in the use of assistive technology such as Kurzweil and Dragon
Make recommendations on the purchase of assistive technologies for the college
Maintain a preventive maintenance schedule for assistive technology equipment
Accessibility Training

Develop and provide educational programs for faculty and staff that clarify IT accessibility requirements, priorities, and recommendations to raise the level of IT accessibility at the college
Qualifications
Required

A Bachelor's degree in a computer related field, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience
Two years of relevant experience
Strong commitment to accessibility principles
Provisioning of academic materials in alternate format for students with disabilities
Experience with assistive computer technologies such as Kurzweil 3000, JAWS, and Dragon Naturally Speaking
Familiarity with W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable policies
Demonstrated organizational and time management skills
Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and customer service skills
Able to take initiative, and work independently and collaboratively
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Attention to detail with emphasis on quality and accuracy
Preferred

A Master’s degree in instructional design, computer science, special education, access technology, education or a related field
Experience using instructional technology to design and develop training materials in a variety of delivery modes, preferably in an educational environment
Experience testing for accessibility compliance, and knowledge of testing tools (such as WAVE)
Experience assisting and training college students, faculty, and staff
Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information (email and/or telephone numbers) for three professional references. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled.

ABOUT AMHERST COLLEGE

Amherst College is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women, persons of color, and persons with disabilities to apply. The College is committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff.

Amherst College, one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the nation, is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, a town of approximately 35,000 residents in the western part of the state. The college’s community is composed of about 1,800 students from 48 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 54 countries around the world, and about 1,000 staff and faculty. The college’s scenic 1,000-acre campus includes a 500-acre wildlife sanctuary and the Book & Plow Farm; three museums: Emily Dickinson Museum, Beneski Museum of Natural History and Mead Art Museum; and multiple educational and cultural venues and resources through the Five College Consortium. The town of Amherst offers an amazing variety of coffee shops, restaurants and entertainment, and a very active outdoor life. Our vibrant campus, diverse community and beautiful surrounding, makes Amherst College and the Town of Amherst the perfect place to work, learn and live!

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