The University of Connecticut invites applicants for an Assistant Director for Assistive & Learning Technologies to serve the Storrs and regional campuses. Under the general direction of the Associate Director for the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD), the Assistant Director is a technology leader on campus to proactively and systemically support, assess and provide technical direction for the implementation and maintenance of accessible technologies at UConn. The Assistant Director will collaborate with University IT departments, including SAIT, CETL – Educational Technology, and ITS – Academic IT, to assist with new and on-going accessibility efforts for a broad portfolio of technologies, including the learning management system, educational technology tools, academic course materials and more. The incumbent is the hands-on technical expert working directly with campus community partners to identify, remediate and educate on digital accessibility challenges and opportunities to create and sustain an inclusive digital environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. The Assistant Director provides consultations and trainings on the accessibility of technology and assistive technology, developing useful resources and tools, and helping to implement policies that promote the accessibility of technologies at UConn.

The successful candidate is expected to work with a fair amount of independence, within the goals and objectives established by the CSD. The incumbent will be sensitive to and have an understanding of the diverse academic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds of University students and staff while establishing and maintaining a positive working relationship with relative constituents. The Assistant Director assists in ensuring that all University entities comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and other relevant state and federal legislation, including ICT standards and guidelines and WCAG 2.0.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Serves as primary technical consultant for the accessibility of technology and assistive technology used at CSD and across UConn for the most effective software and hardware to address students’ needs and meet federal, state, and University ICT standards; resolves problems and addresses concerns related to student services and access involving standard University technologies and assistive technology; addresses issues that arise regarding alternate media/formats and captioning accommodations.
Collaborates with existing University IT departments, including SAIT, CETL – Educational Technology, and ITS – Academic IT, to implement the use of classroom-based and/or standard University technologies to coordinate accommodations and ensure course content access; collaborate with faculty and staff to provide tools to remediate course materials and resources (PDFs, publisher content, Blackboard tools, instructor developed content) to ensure minimum levels of accessibility.
Collaborates with ITS, SAIT and the of Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) on creating and implementing accessibility technology standards, best practices and uniform business processes to create repeatable and meaningful impacts on the level of compliance of technology to accessibility laws and national standards across the University.
Investigates, tests and pilots new technologies, identifies trends, evaluates need for and recommends acquisition of hardware, software and applications; develops processes for evaluating technology assets, platforms, and services for their ability to comply with accessibility standard; finds solutions for meeting accessibility requirements for complex images, graphs, simulations, and other STEM related materials; communicates with vendors regarding pricing and usability of various technologies to be used by students with disabilities; performs cost/benefit analysis and recommends for purchase commercially available software and hardware products; develops budget recommendations for assistive technology; monitors approved budget and expenditures.
Conducts outreach activities designed to promote CSD’s technology initiatives to various audiences; advocates for accessibility awareness, including prospective students, incoming and current UConn students, parents, faculty and staff; provides workshops and consultation to faculty regarding the accessibility of teaching/learning technology and the use of assistive technology in the classroom; collaborates with CETL and ITS staff to provide faculty training on how to make content accessible and awareness of relevant federal and state requirements (ADA, 504, 508, etc.) and any legal implications for the University.
Manages CSD’s assistive technology (AT) program (CSDTech), which oversees the provision of technology-related accommodations, including but not limited to: alternate media, technology-based notetaking assistance, text to speech software, and captioned media; recommends and implements appropriate technologies based on student’s functional limitations.
Supervises the CSDTech team members in conducting technology needs assessment for students with disabilities and develops customized technology service suites, including both assistive technology and learning technology as appropriate; writes, edits and updates technology-related guides for students, staff and faculty; creates technology instructional modules to support student use of AT.
Oversees the administration of the technology equipment loan program by the CSDTech team; maintains a current inventory of hardware, software, supplies and other equipment needed for the operation of the assistive technology support program; monitors equipment security; monitors hardware and software for upgrades/damages/viruses; troubleshoots problems and arranges for repair or replacement; performs minor maintenance and repair. Technology includes but is not limited to smart pens, reader pens, recorders, laptops, tablets and FM systems. Develops replacement cycle and upgrade plans to ensure minimum risk to services. Works with SAIT to maintain security of assistive technology.
Interviews, hires, trains and supervises professional staff, and graduate and undergraduate student employee staff to assist with the implementation of assistive technology support programs. Develops work schedules as well as writes and maintains CSDTech Team Student Employee Handbook (i.e. “how to” guide).
Collects and analyzes data related to assistive technology use semester to semester; reports on data for CSD annual report; uses data for making recommendations regarding technology purchases, upgrades, use and sun-setting.
Serves as the primary web administrator for the CSD website using WordPress and HTML. Develops and updates modules in an Access Database dedicated to CSDTech services to improve operations and track accessible text production workflow, captioned media requests, equipment loans and assistive technology trainings.
Oversees the implementation of new workflow related to technology in the CSD office as well as SAIT's roll-out of standardized equipment for the CSD.
Performs related duties as required as assigned.
Keeps informed of new requirements/regulations regarding web-based/online/distance course content/materials issued by the Office of Civil Rights, Federal Government, U.S. Access Board, etc. (e.g., ICT Standards and Guidelines, WCAG 2.0, etc.).