Learning Specialist Disability Services- Masslinks Disability Services Specialist

About Mount Wachusett Community College:

Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) is a highly regarded educational institution located in Gardner, Massachusetts and accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Established in 1963, MWCC serves the educational needs of the communities of North Central Massachusetts with innovative undergraduate education, early college programs, workforce development, personal enrichment, and community service. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, MWCC provides a supportive environment for individuals to pursue their educational goals, enhance professional skills, and seek personal growth. As a beacon of opportunity, Mount Wachusett Community College empowers individuals from all walks of life, fostering their development and transformation.

We hope you will consider applying for one of our open positions, and discover all that Mount Wachusett Community College and the North Central Massachusetts region have to offer.

http://mwcc.edu/about-mwcc/

Mount Wachusett Community College embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values and makes it our mission to proactively focus on improving racial equity in our college community. We value equity-minded individuals with commitment to serve student learners from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations. Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants who share our commitment and who understand the benefits of culturally relevant practices needed in an educational environment.

Job Description:

General Statement of Duties:

The MassLINKS Disability Services Specialist is responsible for Disability Support Services program administration for the MassLINKS Adult Education Online Academy at MWCC- an exciting partnership between the Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) unit of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC). The MassLINKS Disability Services Specialist possesses an ability to develop, propose, and implement policies/procedures to ensure equal access for all students enrolled in the MassLINKS Adult Education Online Academy at MWCC. The MassLINKS Disability Services Specialist will lead, develop and coordinate a network of academic support services for students with learning disabilities while providing relevant data to MassLINKS team members and leadership. The MassLINKS Disability Services Specialist reviews/evaluates diagnostic information and documentation of student disabilities; collaborates with the MWCC Office of Disability Services to determine eligibility for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable legislation; consults with students, MassLINKS Instructors, administrators, and other personnel regarding students' instructional needs, status of disability, and reasonable accommodations; coordinates/arranges auxiliary aids and individualized accommodations for students and determines need for evaluation referral. The MassLINKS Disability Services Specialist interprets/implements policies for students with disabilities and federal/state laws protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Supports students in cultivating/using appropriate self-advocacy skills

• Serves as student advocate;

• Prepares/presents workshops on academic strategies and skills

• Refers students to appropriate support services/resources;

• Collects and maintains data on program activities/services;

• Consults with students, staff members and MassLINKS leadership regarding students' instructional needs, status of disability, and reasonable accommodations;

• Provides information to students and the MassLINKS community regarding legal rights and responsibilities;

• Conducts workshops for students and the MassLINKS community on issues of disability and higher education;

• Provides professional development training for MassLINKS staff on disability awareness, legal requirements, and curriculum/assessment issues impacting students with learning disabilities;

• Maintains and manages confidentiality of student records aligned to FERPA policies and laws;

• Provides and maintains individual student accommodation plans in line with UDL best practices;

• Serves as the MassLINKS coordinator for adaptive technology materials and resources to support student success, collaborating with the MWCC Office of Disability Services as needed;

• Leads and develops workshops for MassLINKS students and staff related to Massachusetts and federal disability rights across educational settings;

• Conduct work displaying an asset-based mindset approach to the strengths and skill sets represented by neurodiversity;

• Possesses a deep understanding of and ability to educate MassLINKS students and staff regarding "hidden" or unseen disabilities, including academic and medical complexities;

• Partner with appropriate community agencies including but not limited to: The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), etc;

• Coordinate and lead testing accommodations, including student advising and support to obtain and submit required documentation that accurately reflects the authentic learning needs of each individual MassLINKS student;

• Maintains professional knowledge in applicable areas including current knowledge of adaptive technology and of emergency issues in disability services; researches new trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; attends conferences, workshops and training sessions.

For Complete Union Specifications please click HERE

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Special Education, Educational Psychology, Counseling, Deaf Education, Teaching, or closely related field;

• Three (3) years experience and/or training that includes college-level learning disability services, learning disability assessment, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 compliance, development of policies/procedures, teaching, or curriculum development; or

• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience within the Public Adult Education System

• Former or current K-12 Certification

• Experience conducting workshops and delivering Professional Development

• Experience delivering remote programming

• Experience using the Google Workspace for Education suite of applications or similar collaborative online tools.

Equivalency Statement

Applicants who do not meet the qualifications as stated above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience have prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

Additional Information:

Campus Title: MassLinks Disabilty Services Specialist

Salary: $63,288.00-$107,876.00

Actual Salary determined by education, experience, and any applicable grant limitations per the collective bargaining agreement. Applicants should be aware it is unlikely the salary will be at or near the top of the range.

Grade: 5

Employee Status: Full Time Grant Funded. Grant Ends 6/30/2029

Benefits: Yes

Hours per Week:37.5 This is a Telework Eligible Position

Number of Weeks: 52

Mount Wachusett Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual violence shall be referred to the College's Affirmative Action and/or Title IX Coordinator, the Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

Application Instructions:

Candidates for employment should be aware that although the COVID 19 Vaccination Requirement Policy is no longer in effect, all Community College students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to be up to date with vaccination against COVID-19. For additional information related to the status of the COVID19 Vaccination Requirement Policy, please visit: https://mwcc.edu/covid/

The following documents are required:

1.Resume

2.Cover Letter

Anticipated Effective Date: July 2024

Priority will be given to applications received prior to July 10, 2024.

Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Candidates may be subject to employment screening to include both a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) request and a Sexual Offender Registry Information (SORI).