Department: Dean of Students Office - Waterloo 

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Waterloo 

Reports to: Manager, Academic Accomodation 

Employee Group: WLUSA 

Application Deadline: October 20, 2024 

Requisition ID: 8678 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 19,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier’s Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Manager of Academic Accommodations, the Accommodation Consultant is responsible for the provision of services that support and enhance the educational experience of students with documented disabilities (e.g. physical, psychological/psychiatric, learning, medical or sensory).   This position will ensure that requests for academic accommodations are vetted and appropriately supported. 

Ensuring provision of academic accommodations the Accommodation Consultant will:  provide assessment and individualized planning; act as a liaison with faculty, staff and students in an effort to support the implementation of accommodation plans; review and evaluate the effectiveness of academic accommodations; facilitate any needed changes; collaborate with on and off campus supports for seamless response to student support needs; and identify new supports and mechanisms that support a student driven model.  The incumbent will work in collaboration with other services and staff within the Accessible Learning Centre to ensure timely access to identified supports and will be responsible for tracking utilization statistics including trends and issues.  The incumbent will from time to time create and facilitate presentations on issues of relevance to student, staff and/or faculty of the Laurier community. 

Accountabilities

• Initiates the planning process for new student referrals; reviews and assesses all professional documentation to determine eligibility for academic accommodations;

• Consults with prospective students, their parents and teachers/counselors as a means to determine appropriate academic accommodations;

• Conducts an assessment of disability barriers and reviews supporting documentation to determine appropriate accommodations; engages students and collateral supports in the development of the accommodation plan;

• Provides crisis intervention to students when required; assessing need, providing support and linking to appropriate resources; responds to and reports any risk management concerns to the Manager of Academic Accommodations;

• Maintains files for each student registered that contains current documentation, consent forms, case notes, and e-mail communication that supports the implementation of the accommodation plan; 

• Discusses and interprets assessments with psychologists, medical practitioners and students as needed to determine most appropriate accommodations;

• Makes recommendations as necessary for medical or psycho-educational assessments; facilitates appropriate referrals to professionals for assessment and potential diagnosis;

• Determines appropriate temporary accommodations until full assessment process is complete; 

• Evaluates outcomes of accommodation plans and facilitates changes as needed via student update and review meetings;

• Consults with Faculty and administration to ensure accommodations do not comprise the integrity of essential course requirements and to provide essential updates as needed;

• Based on work with students, collateral campus supports and faculty, determine and make recommendation for system level education and intervention efforts that ensure seamless response to students with mental health issues on campus;

• Supports students with navigation of the petition process and writes letters of support (if appropriate);

• Makes recommendations and referrals as needed for assistive technology support, transcription and/or learning strategy support within Accessible Learning and facilitates access to exam support accommodations;

• Makes referrals as needed to on and off-campus service providers in an effort to ensure seamless support; where necessary, engages in planning processes with collateral supports for effective resolution of complex presentations;

• Implements all affiliated initiatives including bursary applications, exam forms etc;

• Ensures accommodations and case notes are updated in the database; identifies trends and issues related to student access in an effort to support systems development

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Education or related field.

• Demonstrated experience in planning and providing academic accommodations for students with disabilities within a post-secondary environment (minimum 2 years).

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of mental health issues and functional impact (of symptoms) within a post-secondary environment.

• Demonstrated skills in responding to individuals in mental health crisis.

• Demonstrated crisis management and resolution skills.

• Demonstrated understanding of educational strategies and methodology in creating and implementing programs for students with disabilities.

• Demonstrated understanding of disability issues (Learning Disabilities/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mental Health First Aide, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills), relevant government legislation (Human Rights, A.O.D.A.) and community resources.  

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to interpret standardized cognitive and achievement measures as well as other test and assessment measures (e.g. WAISS-lll and WJ-R, DSM-5).

• Demonstrated ability to manage crucial conversations with developed conflict management skills.

• Proven high level of communication, organizational, and problem solving skills.

• Excellent interpersonal, writing and presentation skills.

• Effective team skills and ability to work independently.

• Working knowledge of computer software programs including Microsoft Office and specialized software designed for students with disabilities.       

This position is not eligible for educational equivalencies. 

Hours of Work

This is a full-time, limited term position until April 10 2025. Regular hours of work are Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm. Some flexibility may be required due to periods of high volume. When possible the manager will adjust hours so that no more than 35 hours are worked in a week.

Compensation

Level: F

Hiring salary range: $45.34 to $47.94 with an annual step progression on anniversary date up to $51.82. Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.