College of Health Sciences Disability Services Specialist

Overview:

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The Disability Services Center strives to create a culture of inclusion and access to all UCI programs, services, activities, events, and facilities for students with disabilities by forming partnerships with the university community. DSC also provides reasonable accommodations, and related disability services to UCI students, Continuing Education, Summer Session students, and other program participants. DSC also monitors campus compliance with requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended (ADAAA). The DSC also supports and advises academic and administrative departments regarding accessibility to physical and online environments.

Responsibilities:

The College of Health Sciences Disability Services Specialist serves as the expert for the clinical programs under the College of Health Sciences: School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, and School of Population and Public Health for increasing access for and improving retention of students with permanent and temporary disabilities. Under the general direction of the Director of the Disability Services Center, the Disability Specialist will coordinate the provision of services for students enrolled in COHS programs who have a qualified disability and require access to programs and services. 

This position reports to the Director of the Disability Service Center, with a dotted-line to the administration for the School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, and School of Population and Public Health. The Disability Services Specialist serves as the primary contact for prospective and newly admitted students, reviews highly sensitive and confidential disability documentation, determines reasonable accommodations, and provides ongoing disability management support. The specialist assesses and determines the nature and extent of a wide variety of disabilities, needed accommodations, and required support services, making decisions related to a wide range of accommodation issues related to the specific needs of the learners in Health Sciences. 

The specialist consults with faculty and administrators in Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Population and Public Health regarding student needs and disability-related curricular accommodations; interprets federal and state laws and regulations to students and faculty; facilitates projects that support the delivery of high-quality services for Health Sciences students; and coordinates with the Disability Services Center to organize and/or participate in programs to raise awareness of disability issues and empower students with disabilities to achieve academic and personal success. Decisions made by the specialist impacts university compliance and liability under federal and state disability law and regulations. The incumbent will escalate complex issues to the relevant College of Health Science administrator or campus office, as appropriate. Because of the sensitive nature of this position, the specialist must have a deep commitment to ethical and equitable business practices and advocate for a more diverse and inclusive learning environment.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Working knowledge of medical terminology and medical reports and their respective implications for reasonable accommodation and placement.
• Strong writing, speaking, and group presentation skills in order to present information in a clear and concise manner to multiple levels in the organization in a professional manner.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, originality, and judgment in applying established principles to new and unusual problems.
• Willingness and demonstrated ability to embrace and consistently uphold the principles of community for a collaborative work environment and communicate professionally and courteously verbally, and in written form.
• Experience with cultivating and formalizing working relationships with various departments in order to ensure student support.
• Advanced degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in disability services, disability counseling, or a closely related field.

Preferred:

• Advanced knowledge of the legal framework involving accommodations for students with disabilities through state and federal laws and regulations.
• Advanced knowledge of procedures for assessing and determining disability accommodations.
• Disability services experience in health sciences programs, including clinical and lab settings.
• Skill to communicate with instructors and other organizational entities regarding a student's accommodations and other academic needs.
• Advanced knowledge of assessment, accommodation, and intervention techniques, specifically focused on meeting the unique needs of the Health Sciences' learner community.
• Working knowledge of national organizations that support and further disability access in health sciences education.
• Experience assisting and supporting students through the licensure exam accommodation process.
• Familiarity with health sciences technical standards.

Special Conditions:

• May be required to work occasional evenings/weekends.
• Must have a reliable form of transportation to facilitate travel to and from requisite UCI locations.

 

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

The expected pay range for this recruitment is $80,850- $100,000 (Annual).

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.