Accessibility Technologist

The Opportunity:

The Accessibility Technologist is the technology leader on campus to proactively and systemically support, assess and provide technical direction for the implementation and maintenance of accessible technologies at Mines. The Accessibility Technologist will assist with new and on-going accessibility efforts for a broad portfolio of technologies, including the Mines website, learning management system, educational technology tools, academic course materials and more. The incumbent is the hands-on technical expert working directly with campus partners to identify, remediate and educate on digital accessibility challenges and opportunities. They are an individual who has a passion for digital accessibility and are excited by the opportunity to contribute to Mines’ efforts to create and sustain an inclusive digital environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors.

They will support the Information and Technology Solutions (ITS), Disability Support Services (DSS), the Office of Compliance, the Trefny Innovative Instruction Center, and other departments understand how to build, buy, and implement accessible technology. They will host dialogues on accessible technology, developing useful resources and tools, and help implement policies that promote the accessibility of Mines technologies. They will take the lead in developing standards of practice and uniform business processes that create repeatable and meaningful impacts on the level of compliance of technology to accessibility laws and national standards. They will establish a schedule for assessment and evaluation of Mines' websites for compliance, organize large scale audit and remediation projects towards these goals, and present outcomes and strategies for continual improvements towards campus accessibility goals. This position will be expected to serve or co-chair the Accessibility Committee and work collaboratively with other members of the committee to implement, maintain, and enforce procedures, processes, and guidelines covering the Mines digital environment.


Responsibilities:

Digital Technologies Support

Develop, implement and support campus 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.
Develop processes and schedules to audit and assess existing technologies for accessibility compliance issues or concerns.
Organize and manage projects to remediate and improve accessibility of large-scale technologies including the Mines website, video hosting/captioning, LMS, e-textbooks, etc.
Provide technical guidance and strategies to ensure the Mines’ websites are inclusive and optimized for a variety of audiences and their diverse needs.
Create and implement strategies that promotes continuous improvement of Mines’ accessibility status and advances our community towards broader accessibility and inclusivity goals.
Maintain and track inventory of dedicated accessibility hardware and software; selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, retaining, repairing, or replacing of hardware and software as needed.
Keep up to date on new requirements/regulations surrounding web/online course content/materials as they are issued by the Office of Civil Rights, Federal Government, U.S. Access Board, etc. (e.g., ICT Standards and Guidelines, WCAG 2.0, etc.).
As a member of the Mines Accessibility Committee, provide guidance, information and support to campus constituents regarding their technical and functional accessibility needs and help develop, communicate and execute policies, procedures and remediation plans.
Provide accessibility training to various campus stakeholders, including students, staff, faculty and executives.
Create and communicate training materials and documentation to enhance and advocate for accessibility awareness.
Serve as a campus accessibility technology expert for a variety of projects, committees and teams by providing insight and expertise on potential accessibility concerns and methods to mitigate or resolve issues.
Develop processes for evaluating technology assets, platforms, and services for their ability to comply with accessibility standards. The incumbent will organize and prioritize accessibility requirements and communicate with vendors, content owners, application owners, and stakeholders to implement improvements based on impact versus resources required.

Instructional Technology Support

Collaborate with Disability Support Services to evaluate and accommodate the needs of students with disabilities to ensure equitable access to academic technologies and materials- including alternative text and other specific resources.
Evaluate, test, document and report on accessibility of new and existing instructional tools and make recommendations regarding best practices for various use cases.
Remediate course materials and resources (PDFs, publisher content, Canvas tools, instructor development content) to ensure minimum levels of accessibility.
Develop best practices for providing universally designed STEM learning experiences.
Find solutions for meeting accessibility requirements for complex images, graphs, simulations, and other STEM related materials.
Collaborate with Trefny Innovative Instruction Center staff to provide faculty training and provide faculty training and awareness on how to make content accessible, relevant to Federal requirements (ADA, 504, 508, etc.) and any legal implications for the institution faculty members.
Keep up to date on new requirements/regulations surrounding web/online course content/materials as the Office of Civil Rights issues them, Federal Government, U.S. Access Board, etc. (e.g., ICT Standards and Guidelines, WCAG 2.0, etc.).

Application and Client Support

Keep current in and develop a working knowledge of a variety of computer hardware and software programs to assess and recommend the appropriate systems.
Work one-on-one with users and developers to provide hands-on testing and support of accessibility tools.

Other duties as assigned

On occasion, this position may be assigned other duties needed to help drive to the vision, fulfill the mission, and uphold Mines’ and the Department’s organizational values.


Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Technology or related discipline, business administration and/or a field related to engineering, technology or computer science. Individuals without a degree may be considered if they demonstrate possession of substantially the same knowledge level as found in a degree but have attained the advanced knowledge through a combination of work experience and intellectual instruction.
Three years of relevant work experience in web accessibility, or web design/development.
Experience creating accessible content in accordance with accessibility standards for websites, documents, or other digital assets.
Significant experience working within the field of information technology in one or more areas of technical support, instructional and learning technology design and implementation, and/or assistive technology support.
Basic knowledge of disability law including, but not limited to the ADA, Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Knowledge and experience reviewing and validating Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPAT)
Experience with industry-leading assistive technologies such as JAWS, WindowEyes, ZoomText, and Dragon Naturally Speaking.
Knowledge of W3C WCAG 2.0 Level AA web content accessibility standards.
Demonstrated experience in evaluating the accessibility of a digital product using a variety of tools and providing feedback to course owners, and instructional designers.
Be involved in selecting accessible and appropriate technologies for course development and delivery and provide technical consultation on the selection of appropriate technologies.
Knowledge of how instructional technologies can be used effectively for online learning.
Knowledge of trends and issues in instructional technology.
Proven record of exceptional customer service that creates a welcoming and supportive environment.
Experience working with students with disabilities.
Comfort working in a fast-paced environment managing multiple competing priorities.
Ability to use online conferencing software, online chat, web 2.0 tools.
Proven analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to prioritize and execute multiple requests.
Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from a variety of diverse backgrounds.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
Ability to adapt within a rapidly changing technical environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to audiences with a wide range of technical skills.
Ability to work independently as well as in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a team of diverse IT professionals, clients, partners.
Ability to synthesize complex concepts or criteria and develop into concise written form (such as best-practice guidelines, support articles, project plans, and status reports).


Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced degree
Experience working in higher education.
Extensive experience with and understanding of universal design principles and accessibility principles related to emerging web technologies, multimedia, and learning environments.
Knowledge of assistive technology solutions specific to STEM based education.
Experience providing oversight for IT accessibility solutions in a higher education environment.
Experience developing training and/or presentation materials.
Demonstrated experience assisting individuals in the application of accessibility standards and principles.
Experience with project management process to drive and complete projects.
Proven experience working with vendors in strong partnerships.
Significant experience with instructional design and training.
Professional experience utilizing automated accessibility audit and quality assurance tools and processes.
Ability to leverage data collection tools such as surveys, questionnaires, and interviews and process into compelling narratives in both written, verbal, and statistical forms.
Demonstrated experience working with technology vendors and service providers (procurement, implementation, modification/customization, incident remediation, etc.).


How to Apply:
Applicants will be asked to complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, references, veterans status) and upload a resume and cover letter (required). References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.

Total Rewards:
Starting salary will be determined by the qualifications of the selected applicant balanced with departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information. Mines provides an attractive benefits package including fully paid health and dental insurance. Part of Mines' mission is to create a family-friendly environment supported through our dependent tuition benefits, parental leave benefits, and dependent care assistance plan, as well as in special events, camps, and programming. For more information visit: family.mines.edu

Background Investigation Required:
Yes