FT Learning Specialist-DSS Learning Support

Responsible for providing academic support services for students enrolled at Lehigh Carbon Community College, with direct responsibility for students with disabilities.  Determines students’ eligibility for accommodations and recommended learning strategies.  Monitors and implements, with the college community, access and academic accommodations for students with disabilities, providing direct services or acting on behalf of students.  Provides outreach and works as a liaison with community agencies for students with disabilities or disability issues.  Travel to LCCC sites is required at times. Some evening and occasional weekend hours are required.  Reports to the Dean of Academic Support and Student Success.

LCCC Internal candidates must apply within 15 days of posting.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and unofficial transcript through our online application system at www.lccc.edu/jobs.

LCCC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from diverse candidates.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collects, verifies, maintains and appropriately determines students’ eligibility for Disability Support Services and needed accommodations, including facilitating contracted services.
• Interprets and summarizes data from standardized tests and other evaluations (psychoeducational, medical, psychiatric), recommending appropriate accommodations and learning strategies.
• Consults with eligible students about appropriate individualized accommodations based upon documentation.
• Analyzes student learning needs through the use of observation, formal, and informal assessments. Prescribes learning materials and provides learning strategies instruction for students, as appropriate.  Provide referral, as appropriate, to other learning support and student services.
• Responds to inquiries from prospective students and their parents regarding disabilities support services.
• Consults with faculty, administrators, and staff, as needed, regarding the instructional needs of students.
• Assist faculty, administrators and staff with the implementation and monitoring of access and academic accommodations for students with disabilities.
• Maintains confidential student records, including documentation of disability, student contact information and academic progress reports.
• Provides information for students regarding their legal rights and responsibilities.
• Assists in assessment activities designed to support the strengthening of learning and disabilities support services for students.
• Implements a record-keeping system that adheres to program regulation and facilitates program evaluation.
• Conducts outreach efforts, including sharing information about program activities and services for students, throughout the college and local community.
• Serves as a liaison for students with community agencies serving individuals with disabilities.
• Promotes EIT (Electronic Information Technology) policy awareness, assisting with training and consultation for students and employees.
• Assists in college efforts aimed at the prevention of discrimination under ADA.
• Serves on internal and possible external workgroups and committees to assist coordination of training, consulting services, and technical assistance to promote accessibility of electronic and information resources.
• Actively participates in faculty development activities. In addition to college-sponsored development activities, maintain professional development and stay current in fields of case law, academic support, learning assistance for students with disabilities, and EIT best practices.
• Serves on college committees and attends Faculty Meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

Education

• Master’s degree in education, counseling, psychology, vocational rehabilitation, or disability services from an accredited institution.

(Foreign degrees – must provide a U.S. equivalency report of your degree credentials.)

Certifications

• Act 153 Clearances (Act 34 PA Criminal Background, Act 151 PA Child Abuse History, Act 114 FBI Clearance Fingerprinting).

Work Experience

• Three (3) years’ experience providing disability support services and a postsecondary environment including academic/learning support.
• Previous experience interpreting and applying legal guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 508, and other pertinent federal, state and local legislation.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Familiarity with state and federal accessibility laws/standards for electronic and information resources including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) requirements, and accessibility within standard code libraries including JQuery. Knowledge of assistive technologies (JAWS, Text-To-Speech Software, Windows Eyes, Zoom Text, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Smart Pens).
• Proficiency with various MS Office applications and development.
• Ability to work as a team member in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to the mission/goals of a comprehensive community college and equal opportunity admission policy.
• Must possess a high level of the following work skills and behaviors: teamwork/cooperation, initiative, customer service, and commitment to continuous professional growth in skills and knowledge.

Preferred:

• Preferred ability to use various academic products and services that faculty and students could use such as testing software.
• Bilingual Spanish.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.  The employee may regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.