Digital Accessibility Specialist

About Us - Values Overview

Department Summary

The Office of Disability Access (ODA) at the University of North Texas works to ensure access for students with disabilities across university programs services and activities. ODA collaborates with students faculty staff and campus partners to identify and reduce disability-related barriers coordinate reasonable accommodations support student independence and self-advocacy and advance accessible practices across the university. Through consultation education innovation and partnership ODA contributes to a campus environment in which students with disabilities can fully participate in the academic and university experience.

Position Overview

The Digital Accessibility Specialist within the Office of Disability Access is a student- faculty- and staff-facing position focused on advancing digital accessibility across the University of North Texas. The Digital Accessibility Specialist works directly with students with disabilities and faculty to identify troubleshoot and resolve digital accessibility barriers that may impact a students access to course materials instructional technologies or participation in the academic experience.

This position takes both a responsive and proactive approach to digital accessibility by providing consultation education training and remediation support to faculty and staff across the university. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting accessibility within face-to-face courses that incorporate online or digital content while also helping campus partners improve the accessibility of documents websites instructional materials and other digital resources. The Digital Accessibility Specialist helps faculty and staff build accessible practices and identify opportunities to remove barriers before they impact members of the university community.

In addition to digital accessibility responsibilities the Digital Accessibility Specialist holds a Coordinator role by maintaining a small student caseload and assisting students with the implementation and coordination of approved accommodations. Depending on the needs of the office and students this position may also supervise and provide guidance to student employees supporting accommodation-related services and programs.

This position offers an exciting opportunity for a Digital Accessibility Specialist who is interested in innovation collaboration and institutional change. The successful candidate will have opportunities to help shape digital accessibility practices develop creative and sustainable solutions build accessibility capacity across campus and help advance digital accessibility initiatives throughout the UNT Denton campus and across the UNT System.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

* Demonstrable knowledge of digital accessibility principles and standards including Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) WAI-ARIA Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and assistive technology. Knowledge of WCAG 2.1 Level AA and familiarity with WCAG 2.2 or other current accessibility guidance preferred.

* Knowledge of disability access and applicable disability-related laws and regulations including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act particularly as they relate to access within higher education.

* Knowledge of common digital accessibility barriers experienced by individuals with disabilities and an understanding of how people with a range of disabilities use assistive technologies to access digital content.

* Skill in evaluating digital content for accessibility using both manual and automated accessibility testing methods.

* Skill in identifying and remediating accessibility barriers within electronic documents websites learning management systems multimedia and other digital instructional or university content.

* Knowledge of accessible document creation and remediation practices for commonly used formats and applications including Microsoft Word PowerPoint Excel and PDF documents.

* Knowledge of or ability to learn assistive technologies commonly used by individuals with disabilities including screen readers screen magnification voice recognition keyboard navigation and other accessibility tools.

* Ability to translate technical accessibility standards and requirements into understandable practical guidance for faculty staff and other campus partners with varying levels of technical expertise.

* Demonstrated ability to develop and facilitate engaging training consultation and educational opportunities related to digital accessibility.

* Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively with students with disabilities faculty staff information technology professionals instructional designers and other university stakeholders.

* Ability to approach accessibility concerns through collaborative problem-solving balancing the immediate access needs of individuals with disabilities with opportunities to develop sustainable and proactive accessibility practices.

* Ability to independently analyze complex accessibility concerns identify potential solutions and exercise sound professional judgment when a straightforward technical solution is not available.

* Ability to manage multiple projects priorities accessibility requests and student responsibilities while maintaining attention to detail and appropriate follow-through.

* Ability to build collaborative relationships and contribute to cross-functional initiatives designed to advance digital accessibility across a large and complex organization.

* Ability to identify opportunities for innovation process improvement and systemic change related to digital accessibility and to contribute to the development of sustainable accessibility practices across the university.

Preferred Qualifications

* Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Special Education Educational Psychology Higher Education Instructional Design Information Technology or a related field.
* Three or more years of experience working with transition-aged youth and/or adults with disabilities.
* Two or more years of experience in digital accessibility assistive technology accessible instructional materials or a related area.
* Experience working in higher education and supporting students with disabilities.
* Experience evaluating and remediating digital content for accessibility including documents websites multimedia and instructional materials.
* Experience developing and delivering digital accessibility training or consultation to faculty staff or other professional audiences.
* Experience collaborating across departments to identify barriers and advance accessibility initiatives.
* Accessibility-related certification such as CPACC WAS or CPWA preferred.

Required License/Registration/Certifications

N/A

Job Duties

• Digital Accessibility Consultation and Support: Partner with students with disabilities faculty and staff to identify evaluate troubleshoot and resolve digital accessibility barriers involving course materials instructional technologies websites documents multimedia and other digital content.
• Accessibility Evaluation and Remediation: Evaluate digital materials using appropriate manual and automated accessibility testing methods and provide or coordinate remediation support to improve accessibility and usability.
• Faculty and Staff Training: Develop and provide training consultation resources and technical assistance to faculty and staff on digital accessibility accessible content creation assistive technology and proactive accessibility practices.
• Proactive Accessibility and Barrier Prevention: Collaborate with faculty staff and campus partners to identify accessibility concerns before they create barriers and develop practical sustainable strategies for improving digital accessibility.
• Campus and System Collaboration: Participate in committees workgroups projects and cross-functional initiatives focused on advancing digital accessibility across the UNT Denton campus and as appropriate the UNT System. Contribute expertise and recommendations related to accessibility practices processes and institutional improvement.
• Student Accommodation Coordination: Maintain a reduced caseload of students with disabilities engage in the interactive process and assist with the implementation and coordination of approved accommodations in accordance with university procedures and applicable disability law.
• Student Employee Supervision: Depending on departmental and student needs supervise train and provide guidance to student employees supporting designated accommodation-related services or programs.
• Accessibility Resources and Continuous Improvement: Develop and maintain digital accessibility resources guidance procedures and training materials. Remain current on emerging accessibility standards technologies regulations and best practices and recommend opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Documentation and Program Support: Maintain appropriate records and documentation related to accessibility consultations student services projects and other assigned responsibilities and contribute to assessment and reporting efforts as needed.

Physical Requirements

Communicating with others to exchange information.
Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
Repeating motions that may include the wrists hands and/or fingers.

Environmental Hazards

No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required particularly during peak periods and for university events trainings or other departmental needs.

Driving University Vehicle

No

Security Sensitive

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed additional references can be added after the application has been submitted.

Benefits

For information regarding our Benefits click here.

EEO Statement

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit and takes actions to prevent discrimination harassment (including sexual violence domestic violence dating violence and stalking) and retaliation on the basis of race color religion national origin sex age disability genetic information or veteran status in its application employment practices and facilities; nor permits race color national origin religion age disability veteran status or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes and educational programs and activities. UNT System Administration promptly investigates complaints of discrimination harassment and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. System Administration also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice file a charge or report or testify assist or participate in a related investigation or proceeding.