POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the direction of the Coordinating
Supervisor, the Accessibility Specialist will develop and provide technical
assistance, training and resource materials in the areas of web accessibility,
accessible online education and accessible digital media for the Department of
Special Education. The responsibilities
include working directly with department partners and partners at the state and
local level to identify, remediate and educate on digital accessibility
challenges and opportunities for students with disabilities. The individual in
this position will conduct audits and monitor major initiatives for the
Department of Special Education related to accessibility, develop training, compile
reports and make appropriate recommendations for ensuring that the Department
of Special Education web-based information complies with
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level A & Level AA and related federal,
state and local regulations.
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Designs and delivers training in web accessibility and
accessible technology in multiple formats for professional learning
opportunities for school-based staff, central office staff and community
stakeholders;
Coaches educators on how to design inclusive and
accessible educational experiences centered on the personalized learning needs
of all students, including those with disabilities;
Serves on district and state committees to ensure that
instructional materials, textbooks and assessments meet federal and state
regulations regarding accessibility for students with disabilities;
Monitors
the text-to-speech accommodations for students with disabilities based on the
required decision-making process;
Analyzes district-wide service delivery data related to
technology to help establish future goals and actions to ensure accessibility
for student with disabilities;
Reviews the PGCPS district technology plan and determines
fit of specialized technology needs for students with disabilities; provides input on the strategic plan as
it relates to supporting implementation of systems to support student needs and
monitor systems of accessibility;
Assists
in the research, selection and monitoring of assistive technology,
accessibility features and accommodations that can be used for instruction and
assessment based on decisions made by the Individualized Education Program
(IEP) teams;
Provides
updates to the Department of Special Education website to ensure
compliance with Section 508, World Wide Web accessibility standards, WCAG 2.0 Level A & Level AA;
Collaborates with Informational Technology and
Instructional Technology to develop and implement accessible technology tools to
support families, educators and students;
Plans and
coordinates cross-functional opportunities for professional learning;
Serves as a
liaison between key PGCPS departments and the Department of Special Education
on accessibility to ensure compliance with Section 508, World Wide Web
accessibility standards, WCAG 2.0 Level A & Level AA; and
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Thorough knowledge and understanding
of issues and legislation relevant to accessibility in special education;
Thorough working knowledge of applicable federal
and state laws, policies, regulations and standards
Experience
producing or assessing digital instructional materials that adhere to
accessibility standards (WCAG 2.0, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act, WAI-ARIA, UAAG, and ATAG);
Possess knowledge of Maryland state
assessment requirements and competencies in implementing online testing;
Experience
with assistive technologies (e.g. JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, ReadOutLoud, Zoomtext,
braille keyboards, embossers, textbook conversion, speech recognition,
captioning, etc.) and various accessibility tools;
Demonstrated competence in
developing and leading professional learning opportunities in accessible
formats for educators and administrators;
Ability to manage and prioritize
tasks in a work environment with high performance demands;
Ability to identify and suggest potential
solutions to deliver accessible content on web and mobile device;
Excellent organizational skills and the ability
to work both independently and collaboratively with diverse teams;
Demonstrated ability to gather resources and
information needed to understand content and options;
Knowledge of principles, concepts, methods and
techniques of universal design standards;
Ability to utilize online and virtual technology
formats for communication, data gathering and reporting activities;
Excellent oral and written
communication skills, as well as effective human relations and interpersonal
skills; and
Computer literacy including proficiency with the
Microsoft Office suite.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Master's degree from an accredited college or university in special
education, instructional technology, assistive technology or a closely related
field required. A minimum of four (4) years
of successful experience with assistive technology, digital learning and/or
accessibility compliance.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
None Required.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
None.