Western University of Health Sciences
Assistive Technology and Alternative Media Specialist
Western University of Health Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Posting Details
About WesternU
As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.
At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.
Although, geographically, we are two campuses - as humanists, we are one: to enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities and achieve excellence in everything we do. We attract diverse, professional faculty, staff and students that thrive in an environment of humanistic health care education. Join our team of faculty and staff and make a difference.
Posting Details
Position Title Assistive Technology and Alternative Media Specialist
Position Control Number S02762
Type of Position Staff
Position Status Full-time
Campus Western University Campus-Pomona, CA
Position Location California
Department 4201-Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy
Job Summary
The Assistive Technology/Alternative Media (AT) Specialist provides instruction, technical assistance, consultation, training, and resource materials to students registered with the Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy (HFCDHP) and faculty and staff at Western University of Health Sciences. Key areas of assistive and instructional computer technologies emphasize assistive computer technologies for students with learning disabilities, vision disabilities, physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, or those who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. This position supports students' assistive technology and alternative media needs from initial contact to achievement of their learning goals and involves the provision and production of alternative media that assures students with disabilities access to their academic coursework in accordance with state and federal law.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Individuals must possess the knowledge, as well as the following skills and abilities or be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to effectively interact with faculty, staff, administration, students, healthcare professionals, publishers, and outside contacts; ability to communicate with others in person, by telephone, and by email; and facilitate presentations at all levels. Documents will contain medical terminology; therefore, knowledge of medical terminology is preferred.
2. Advanced level of experience in learning management systems, databases, web conferencing technologies, Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, applications, machines, equipment, devices, software programs etc., related to conversion of instructional documents and textbooks to appropriate alternative media format and assistive technology.
3. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple tasks and be flexible in job assignments. Ability to handle detail-orientated assignments with accuracy and maintain confidentiality.
4. Knowledge and experience in analyzing complex situations and identifying solutions. Ability to exercise sound judgement and discretion in handling confidential materials and matters and determine when to escalate matters to supervisor.
5. Research advancement of new access technologies that may be suitable for implementation within the university, as it applies to the needs of students with disabilities.
6. Communicate and interface with IT, faculty, staff, and students regarding digital access to campus online courses, instructional materials, and student support services. 7. Instruct campus departments, divisions, and/or administrative units to identify and incorporate access needs into their comprehensive planning process and course curriculum.
8. Demonstrate and operate adaptive technologies and provide instructional/technical support to faculty to ensure ADA-compliant hybrid and online classes.
9. Knowledge of fundamentals, terminology, techniques, equipment, and materials of access and adaptive technology.
10. Demonstrated knowledge and successful implementation of instructional development strategies.
11. Knowledge of models for development and assessment of curriculum.
12. Participate in departmental, advisory, campus-side and community committees as part of the university shared-governance process and service area needs.
13. Working knowledge of Federal, state, and local laws, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations pertaining to student privacy, FERPA of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1 and 2.2, California law, and WesternU and HFCDHP policies, procedures, and guidelines pertaining to students with disabilities in higher education.
Required Qualifications
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, instructional design, special education, or a related field.
- Ability to use a wide variety of popular assistive technologies (e.g., Dragon NaturallySpeaking, ZoomText, Kurzweil, Capti, Speechify, JAWS, and built-in accessibility features in Google, Microsoft, Windows, Apple, Adobe, etc.).
- Experience with learning management systems and web conferencing technologies.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications Background in instructional or educational technology: - Experience in integrating external tools into the learning management system (preference for Canvas experience).
- Excellent computer, communication (oral and written) and customer service skills, commitment towards continued quality improvement and institutional effectiveness.
- Minimum of three to five years of full-time experience or the equivalent within the last five years of working with individuals with disabilities in higher education identifying assistive technology to meet their access and/or learning needs and providing instruction in its use.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt teaching strategies and techniques to different student abilities and learning styles.
Essential Job Duties
Key Responsibilities
Coordination of Assistive Technology:
- Evaluates students' need for assistive technology. Recommends, installs, and provides training and troubleshooting on assistive technology for students with disabilities approved for this accommodation one-on-one or in group settings.
- Participates in the development and maintenance of policies and processes related to assistive technology and implements workflow recommendations from HFCDHP staff.
- Monitors and tracks students use of assistive technology through reporting and analysis to make improvements and recommend future technology purchases.
- Maintains current inventory system and loan program for assistive/adaptive technologies purchased.
- Maintains appropriate records in the HFCDHP database by case noting encounters with, and regarding students, courses, and instructors.
- Research new assistive technology and stay abreast of assistive technology programs, guidelines, policies, and regulations and informs staff, faculty, and administration of implemented and/or mandated changes to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
- Facilitates processes involved with securing adaptive equipment and materials (i.e., specialized furniture, assistive listening devices, etc.) for students with disabilities. Maintains the department's Assistive Technology Lending Library and website.
- Collaborates with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), the Office of Information Technology (IT), and CDHP's contracted vendor to facilitate the captioning and transcription of video, audio, and other multimedia content in various educational platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Support for Accessible Course Content and Digital Accessibility:
- Serves as the primary technology and subject matter expert in digital accessibility for HFCDHP.
- Provides technical assistance and training to faculty and staff on how to make accessible instructional and programmatic materials one-on-one or in group settings.
- Consults and problem-solves creative solutions for digital accessibility needs.
- Builds effective relationships with course developers and designers, CETL, IT and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the accessibility of course materials and the successful use of assistive technologies for students with disabilities.
Key Responsibilities
Coordination of Alternative Media Production:
- Develops and implements policies and procedures relating to alternative media production and the assistive/adaptive technology lending library.
- Assures quality of production and timely delivery of alternative media formats (i.e., textbooks, instructional materials, etc.).
- Maintains detailed records of alternative media transactions.
- Collaborates with book publishers to request electronic files on behalf of students with disabilities.
- Utilizes textbook repository sites such as Access Text Network, etc. to obtain textbooks and instructional materials for students with disabilities.
- Provides case file management and follow-up with students; and establishes and maintains ongoing communication with students regarding the status of their alternate media requests.
Key Responsibilities
Other Duties as Assigned: Supports other department staff members and performs other duties as assigned. Collaborates with HFCDHP staff through departmental meetings and work groups to enhance the services provided to students with disabilities. Carries out other office responsibilities as assigned in keeping with their classification. These may include, but are not limited to, office organization and attendance at a variety of departmental and university meetings and trainings.
Posting Details Continued
Work Schedule
Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00 pm. Some overtime may be required for HFCDHP events.
Working at WesternU
We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable.
We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Additionally, • Our faculty, staff, and administrators are 100% focused on student success. • Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment. • Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community. • As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic self, and lead to the future with innovation in health sciences. • WesternU's core value of humanism encourages all to bring their whole self in all that they do. • We are committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity, collaboration, and fun at all levels for all people!
Expected Pay Scale
Minimum $26.00
Maximum $31.75
About WesternU
As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.
At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.
Although, geographically, we are two campuses - as humanists, we are one: to enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities and achieve excellence in everything we do. We attract diverse, professional faculty, staff and students that thrive in an environment of humanistic health care education. Join our team of faculty and staff and make a difference.
Posting Details
Position Title Assistive Technology and Alternative Media Specialist
Position Control Number S02762
Type of Position Staff
Position Status Full-time
Campus Western University Campus-Pomona, CA
Position Location California
Department 4201-Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy
Job Summary
The Assistive Technology/Alternative Media (AT) Specialist provides instruction, technical assistance, consultation, training, and resource materials to students registered with the Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy (HFCDHP) and faculty and staff at Western University of Health Sciences. Key areas of assistive and instructional computer technologies emphasize assistive computer technologies for students with learning disabilities, vision disabilities, physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, or those who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. This position supports students' assistive technology and alternative media needs from initial contact to achievement of their learning goals and involves the provision and production of alternative media that assures students with disabilities access to their academic coursework in accordance with state and federal law.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Individuals must possess the knowledge, as well as the following skills and abilities or be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to effectively interact with faculty, staff, administration, students, healthcare professionals, publishers, and outside contacts; ability to communicate with others in person, by telephone, and by email; and facilitate presentations at all levels. Documents will contain medical terminology; therefore, knowledge of medical terminology is preferred.
2. Advanced level of experience in learning management systems, databases, web conferencing technologies, Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, applications, machines, equipment, devices, software programs etc., related to conversion of instructional documents and textbooks to appropriate alternative media format and assistive technology.
3. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple tasks and be flexible in job assignments. Ability to handle detail-orientated assignments with accuracy and maintain confidentiality.
4. Knowledge and experience in analyzing complex situations and identifying solutions. Ability to exercise sound judgement and discretion in handling confidential materials and matters and determine when to escalate matters to supervisor.
5. Research advancement of new access technologies that may be suitable for implementation within the university, as it applies to the needs of students with disabilities.
6. Communicate and interface with IT, faculty, staff, and students regarding digital access to campus online courses, instructional materials, and student support services. 7. Instruct campus departments, divisions, and/or administrative units to identify and incorporate access needs into their comprehensive planning process and course curriculum.
8. Demonstrate and operate adaptive technologies and provide instructional/technical support to faculty to ensure ADA-compliant hybrid and online classes.
9. Knowledge of fundamentals, terminology, techniques, equipment, and materials of access and adaptive technology.
10. Demonstrated knowledge and successful implementation of instructional development strategies.
11. Knowledge of models for development and assessment of curriculum.
12. Participate in departmental, advisory, campus-side and community committees as part of the university shared-governance process and service area needs.
13. Working knowledge of Federal, state, and local laws, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations pertaining to student privacy, FERPA of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1 and 2.2, California law, and WesternU and HFCDHP policies, procedures, and guidelines pertaining to students with disabilities in higher education.
Required Qualifications
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, instructional design, special education, or a related field.
- Ability to use a wide variety of popular assistive technologies (e.g., Dragon NaturallySpeaking, ZoomText, Kurzweil, Capti, Speechify, JAWS, and built-in accessibility features in Google, Microsoft, Windows, Apple, Adobe, etc.).
- Experience with learning management systems and web conferencing technologies.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications Background in instructional or educational technology: - Experience in integrating external tools into the learning management system (preference for Canvas experience).
- Excellent computer, communication (oral and written) and customer service skills, commitment towards continued quality improvement and institutional effectiveness.
- Minimum of three to five years of full-time experience or the equivalent within the last five years of working with individuals with disabilities in higher education identifying assistive technology to meet their access and/or learning needs and providing instruction in its use.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt teaching strategies and techniques to different student abilities and learning styles.
Essential Job Duties
Key Responsibilities
Coordination of Assistive Technology:
- Evaluates students' need for assistive technology. Recommends, installs, and provides training and troubleshooting on assistive technology for students with disabilities approved for this accommodation one-on-one or in group settings.
- Participates in the development and maintenance of policies and processes related to assistive technology and implements workflow recommendations from HFCDHP staff.
- Monitors and tracks students use of assistive technology through reporting and analysis to make improvements and recommend future technology purchases.
- Maintains current inventory system and loan program for assistive/adaptive technologies purchased.
- Maintains appropriate records in the HFCDHP database by case noting encounters with, and regarding students, courses, and instructors.
- Research new assistive technology and stay abreast of assistive technology programs, guidelines, policies, and regulations and informs staff, faculty, and administration of implemented and/or mandated changes to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
- Facilitates processes involved with securing adaptive equipment and materials (i.e., specialized furniture, assistive listening devices, etc.) for students with disabilities. Maintains the department's Assistive Technology Lending Library and website.
- Collaborates with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), the Office of Information Technology (IT), and CDHP's contracted vendor to facilitate the captioning and transcription of video, audio, and other multimedia content in various educational platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Support for Accessible Course Content and Digital Accessibility:
- Serves as the primary technology and subject matter expert in digital accessibility for HFCDHP.
- Provides technical assistance and training to faculty and staff on how to make accessible instructional and programmatic materials one-on-one or in group settings.
- Consults and problem-solves creative solutions for digital accessibility needs.
- Builds effective relationships with course developers and designers, CETL, IT and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the accessibility of course materials and the successful use of assistive technologies for students with disabilities.
Key Responsibilities
Coordination of Alternative Media Production:
- Develops and implements policies and procedures relating to alternative media production and the assistive/adaptive technology lending library.
- Assures quality of production and timely delivery of alternative media formats (i.e., textbooks, instructional materials, etc.).
- Maintains detailed records of alternative media transactions.
- Collaborates with book publishers to request electronic files on behalf of students with disabilities.
- Utilizes textbook repository sites such as Access Text Network, etc. to obtain textbooks and instructional materials for students with disabilities.
- Provides case file management and follow-up with students; and establishes and maintains ongoing communication with students regarding the status of their alternate media requests.
Key Responsibilities
Other Duties as Assigned: Supports other department staff members and performs other duties as assigned. Collaborates with HFCDHP staff through departmental meetings and work groups to enhance the services provided to students with disabilities. Carries out other office responsibilities as assigned in keeping with their classification. These may include, but are not limited to, office organization and attendance at a variety of departmental and university meetings and trainings.
Posting Details Continued
Work Schedule
Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00 pm. Some overtime may be required for HFCDHP events.
Working at WesternU
We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable.
We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Additionally, • Our faculty, staff, and administrators are 100% focused on student success. • Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment. • Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community. • As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic self, and lead to the future with innovation in health sciences. • WesternU's core value of humanism encourages all to bring their whole self in all that they do. • We are committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity, collaboration, and fun at all levels for all people!
Expected Pay Scale
Minimum $26.00
Maximum $31.75