Access Counselor

Salary Range Starting salary at $49,310; commensurate with experience

This position supports the work of Accessible Education Services (AES) in fostering the full and meaningful inclusion of students with disabilities at the University of Portland. Specifically, this position implements University policies and practices to determine and provide reasonable accommodations, assists students in effectively utilizing their AES accommodations in order to achieve equitable access to University programs and activities, and assesses service efficacy.

This position works closely with students, faculty, and staff across campus to improve campus accessibility through programs and services that reframe disability and promote inclusive design.

• Explain AES services and procedures to incoming students and parents via intake appointments, phone inquiries, email communications, and orientation programs; facilitate referrals to academic, informational, and co‑curricular resources, including collaboration with University departments (e.g., school and college advising resources, Campus Safety, Office of Residence Life, etc.).
• Develop collaborative working relationships with parents and family members of AES‑registered students, including responding to inquiries from family members regarding AES resources and student well‑being, consistent with all legal and University requirements (including FERPA), and referring inquiries to other departments as appropriate.
• Engage in interactive process with students to discuss access needs and concerns, including matters such as accommodation management, barriers to full participation in the curricular and co‑curricular environments, problem‑solving individual situations, and navigating and referral to University resources.
• Implement AES procedures, including review of disability documentation, in order to facilitate AES accommodation plans and accessibility planning for students with disabilities.
• Analyze the relationship between learning outcomes (essential requirements), pertinent case law, institution mission, and the needs of individual students with disabilities to determine appropriate actions or outcomes; in consultation with Associate Director of AES, Dean’s designees and or Provost’s Office.
• Confer with and advise students, faculty and staff in complicated or difficult situations, providing technical advice, problem‑solving assistance, program goals clarification, and procedural guidance.
• Support students in learning effective strategies for managing their academic, accommodation and disability‑related responsibilities to maximize self‑efficacy.
• Monitor academic progress of student caseload through outreach, intervention and retention strategies.
• Provide AES consultation to University Care Team (Early Alert) and BITA Team; through outreach to AES‑registered students with potential accommodation support needs; communicate with Care Team members within AES confidentiality parameters via Maxient database.
• Provide education and information on a case‑specific basis to all parties involved in the accommodation implementation process.
• Train students regarding the use of assistive technology and facilitate distribution of AES‑owned assistive technology and equipment.
• Consult with faculty and staff on universal design, social construction of disability, and intersections of disability with campus environments to support broader campus accessibility for students and minimize the need for individual accommodations.
• Manage and facilitate workshops to support AES‑registered students in effective accommodation management and related academic strategies.
• Work independently and exercise discretion in all areas of responsibility; seek appropriate consultation with supervisor and/or colleagues regarding complex or difficult situations.
• Document communications, actions, and accommodations.
• Develop analyses and reports as appropriate or requested. Assist with department assessments as appropriate or requested.
• Assist Associate Director of AES in development, interpretation, and administration of department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures, including strategic…