The Accessibility Specialist serves Students with disabilities to secure access and to facilitate accommodations related to academics, testing, housing, and meal-plan accommodations. As part of a team of Accessibility Specialists, each Accessibility Specialist also serves as a liaison to University Campus Partners or facilitates a service delivery system for the Student Accessibility Center (SAC). Responsibilities include:
Direct Student Service:
- Evaluates and interprets disability documentation and reviews student applications to affiliate with the Student Accessibility Center (SAC). Prepares for the initial interview and prepares questions about the functional impact of a student’s disabilities in relation to their courses/academic program.
- Approves and facilitates reasonable accommodations consistent with current law and identified best practices within the field.
- Prepares a case-notes summary of findings and recommendations after the interview, inputting these into the case-management system database. Maintains confidentiality of records.
- Meets individually with students to discuss current accommodations, assesses the need for reevaluation of accommodations, fosters student self-advocacy, and maintains communication with Instructors/Staff.
- Coordinates communication between Faculty, Staff, and prospective and enrolled Students with disabilities. Provides on-going consultation and technical assistance to facilitate services and accommodations, some of which require a fundamental-alteration review to set limits on their usage, which requires Faculty input.
- Provides referrals to students for practitioner evaluations and to on-campus academic and wellness resources.
- Works directly with Students with disabilities including but not limited to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, visually-impaired, learning-disabled and students with medical (such as chronic conditions) and mental health concerns. Re-evaluates accommodations when students move to field-based learning (e.g., internships, practicums, clinical rotations).
- In collaboration with SAC Staff, plans and facilitates Student and Faculty workshops.
- Facilitates accessible participation at various campus events (Student Organization Fair, Wellness Fair, Orientation Resource Fair, etc.) working closely with the campus planners and event organizers.
- While the central office is based at Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus, the Accessibility Specialist will work at both the Lake Shore Campus and the Health Sciences Campus (Maywood, IL), and may travel to the Water Tower Campus, as needed.
Accommodated Testing Operations:
- Oversees accommodated testing operations and proctoring at the Health Sciences Campus in support of students in the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON) and Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health.
- Communicates with Faculty and school Administration to support testing operations.
- Works with campus reservations processes to coordinate testing locations, including room reservations for group testing rooms and private-room testing.
- Coordinates scheduling of accommodated testing for MNSON and Parkinson students at the HSC testing center.
- In collaboration with the SAC Testing Coordinator, manages proctors at the Health Sciences Campus.
Collaboration/Consultation:
- Serves as a member on internal and university-wide work groups and committees, as needed.
- Maintains liaison relationship with Campus Partners, and/or supports the delivery of other SAC services, including but not limited to communication services, notetaking, assistive technology, or alternate format materials.
- Works closely with the Department of Residence Life regarding housing, dining, and emotional support animal (ESA) accommodation needs for students with disabilities.
- Consults and collaborates with Staff in other units, including but not limited to First and Second Year Academic Advising, Scholars Programs, undergraduate and graduate academic programs, Tutoring Center, New Student Programs, International Programs, the Wellness Center, and the Office of the Dean of Students.
- Serves as a liaison to the Faculty and campus community on issues related to students with disabilities, classroom and curriculum accommodations, and ADA compliance for students.
- Participates in Student Academic Services signature programs, events, and activities, including but not limited to: Orientation, New Student Convocation, finals week proctoring, admission open houses, and student celebrations.
- Must be able to work some evening and weekend hours in a fast-paced environment.
- Performs other duties as required.
About Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago (Loyola or LUC) is a private Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1870 by the Jesuits, Loyola is one of the largest Catholic universities in the United States. Loyola's professional schools include programs in medicine, nursing, and health sciences anchored by the Loyola University Medical Center.
Comprising eleven colleges and schools, Loyola offers over 80 undergraduate and 140 graduate/professional programs and enrolls approximately 16,000 students. Loyola has six campuses across the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as a campus in Rome and guest programs in Beijing and Ho Chi Minh City. The flagship Lake Shore Campus is on the shores of Lake Michigan in the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods of Chicago, eight miles north of the Loop.
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