About the Department

Located just outside of Seattle, WA, Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) was founded in 1949, and is the only public institute of technology in the state of Washington. LWTech offers 12 bachelor's degrees, 42 associate degrees, and 70 professional certificates in 41 areas of study, including STEM-focused programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

.LWTech serves the Eastside and is located within the city of Kirkland, which is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Washington. Kirkland is home to companies such as GoDaddy, Google, Astronics and EvergreenHealth, and the college is within minutes from Microsoft and Nintendo.
Learn more about LWTech's Mission, Vision, Values, and Core Themes

LWTech is committed to increasing its cultural diversity with an emphasis on equity and inclusion among its staff and faculty. We serve a student population of 6,500 that come from a variety of backgrounds. We strongly value diversity and are working to improve access and successful educational outcomes for all students. We are actively seeking applicants that will help to balance our employee workforce to align with our students and community. Questions regarding the College's commitment to diversity and our campus culture may be directed to Human Resources. For more information on our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Council, please click on the link.     

Summary of Responsibilities

The Director of Disability Support Services leads and administers the college’s Disability Support Services program, ensuring equitable access for students with disabilities and compliance with federal and state disability laws. The director evaluates disability documentation, conducts access meetings with students, has primary responsibility for determining reasonable accommodations, maintains relevant documentation, and provides consultation and training to faculty and staff regarding the effective implementation of accommodations.

The Director also supervises a Coordinator of Disability Support Services while coordinating closely with campus partners such as the assessment center, faculty, advising, TRIO, and other student services departments.

The director hires and coordinates contracted American Sign Language interpreters and other accessibility service providers, supervises student employees as needed, and manages accommodation-related contracts and expenditures.

This is a contracted, exempt management position reporting to the Vice President of Student Services.

Position Duties

Program Leadership and Administration

• Lead and administer the college’s Disability Support Services program to ensure equitable access for students with disabilities.
• Ensure program compliance with applicable disability laws and regulations including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Maintain confidential student records in accordance with institutional policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
• Evaluate Disability Support Services policies, procedures, and operations to ensure effective service delivery and continuous improvement.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret program data and prepare reports and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Represent Disability Support Services on campus committees and collaborate with internal and external partners to support accessibility and student success.
• Identify emerging issues, innovative practices, and technologies that may improve accessibility and service delivery.
• Submit CARE reports and collaborate with campus partners when students require additional support.
• Assist the Vice President of Student Services and other administrators with departmental initiatives and perform other duties as assigned.

• Conduct access or intake meetings with students to assess disability-related barriers and determine reasonable accommodations.
• Engage in an interactive process with students to identify appropriate accommodations that provide equitable access while maintaining academic standards.
• Review and interpret medical, psychological, and educational documentation as part of the accommodation determination process.
• Use professional judgment, student self-report, and supporting documentation to determine appropriate accommodations.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of student interactions within the Disability Support Services database (AIM) and other student information systems such as ctcLink and Starfish/EAB.
• Communicate with students regarding the accommodation request process, their approved accommodations, and procedures for using accommodations.

• Serve as the college’s subject matter expert on disability access and accommodation processes.
• Consult with faculty and staff regarding the implementation of approved accommodations and disability-related access concerns.
• Facilitate communication between students and faculty to ensure effective implementation of accommodations.
• Provide guidance on inclusive instructional practices and accessibility strategies (such as Universal Design for Learning) that reduce barriers for students with disabilities.
• Resolve accommodation concerns between students and faculty and consult with the Vice President of Student Services when complex issues arise.
• Ensure effective delivery of testing accommodations and accommodated proctoring services.
• Coordinate or provide guidance on assistive technology and accessibility resources that support student access to instructional materials and campus services.

• Supervise the Disability Support Services Coordinator including hiring, training, scheduling, performance evaluation, and professional development; delegate intakes, student support, and other duties as appropriate.
• Ensure Assessment Center processes align with accommodation requirements, testing integrity standards, and institutional policies.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate student employees as needed.
• Hire and coordinate contracted accessibility service providers including American Sign Language interpreters, CART/real-time captioning providers, and alternative format vendors.
• Manage contracts, invoices, and service agreements for accessibility services using college procurement procedures.
• Track accommodation-related expenditures and support budget management for Disability Support Services.

Minimum Qualifications

A minimum of one year experience in the direct provision of accommodations to students in a college setting is required.

Additionally, candidates must have a combination of education, professional experience, and lived experience that demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position. Competitive candidates typically possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Disability Studies, Deaf Studies, Psychology, Higher Education, Student Affairs, Education, Social Work, Human Services, or a related field and two or more years of direct experience providing accommodations to students in an educational setting.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to:

• Interpret complex medical, psychological, and educational documentation
• Determine appropriate accommodations that ensure equitable access
• Apply federal and state disability laws within a higher education setting
• Evaluate the impact of accommodations within academic environments
• Communicate effectively with students, faculty, and staff in both written and verbal formats
• Maintain detailed and confidential records while managing multiple responsibilities in a one-person office environment
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, including an understanding of disability as an important dimension of diversity

Lived experience with a disability or experience navigating disability access systems is valued and considered relevant professional insight.

• Significant experience providing disability access services in a college or university setting
• Experience working in a community or technical college environment
• Experience coordinating accessibility services such as interpreting, captioning, or alternative formats
• Familiarity with assistive technology and accessibility tools used in higher education
• Experience providing training or consultation to faculty or staff on accessibility or accommodations
• Due to the diversity of the college population, we encourage applicants who are multilingual

Other Qualifications

Compensation & Work Schedule 
Salary placement is $8,284 per month. This is a 40-hours per week, exempt position.  

Benefits
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability and other insurance benefits are provided as currently administered under Public Employees Benefits Board, State Retirement Plan and a Deferred Compensation Plan; sick leave accrues at 1 day effective upon employment and vacation accrues at 25 days per year. We also offer 13 paid holidays and 4 paid personal days effective upon employment. Full time, exempt employees have access to bereavement leave, employee assistance program, free tuition, reduced childcare costs at our Early Learning Center, reduced Bus Fare, professional development opportunities and more! For further details on the benefits offered at LWTech, please visit: lwtech.edu/about/human-resources/benefits/

Required Online Application Materials 
• Online application
• Current resume
• Cover letter
• Responses to the supplemental questions included in the online application process

To be considered for a position you MUST submit a complete online application form, resume, cover letter, responses to the supplemental questions included in the online application process.

Conditions of Employment
• Official transcripts/certifications will be required upon employment
• Other conditions that may apply will be detailed upon the offer of employment
• Job offers are contingent upon successful completion of background/reference checks

Physical Requirements
Ability to perform range of physical motions; lifting and carrying; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; and traversing up and down stairs.

Disability Accommodation
LWTech follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides the following information as a guideline for applicants:
• Ability to operate office equipment
• Ability to read and verify data and prepare various materials
• Ability to exchange information on the phone or in person

Eligibility to Work
In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire. LWTech does not currently sponsor HB-1 visas. Other conditions that may apply will be detailed upon the offer of employment. 

Applicants considered for positions at the College may be required to submit to a background check as a condition of employment. Adverse information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability for the position.

Equal Employment Opportunity(EEO) Statement
Lake Washington Institute of Technology is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, creed, disabled veteran status, marital status or Vietnam-era veteran status in is programs and activities. Questions regarding the College's Affirmative Action Policy may be directed to the Meena Park, Vice President of Human Resources, Affirmative Action Office/Title IX Coordinator, (425) 739-8212.

Jeanne Clery Statement:
Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998, and as a part of the College’s commitment to safety and security on campus, Lake Washington Institute of Technology(LWTech) reports the mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, the required statistics, and other related information for the past three (3) calendar years. LWTech’s Annual Safety Report (ASR) is available online at www.lwtech.edu/about/campus-safety/.