Assistive Technology Specialist

The Office of Computing and Information Services (CIS) at the City University of New York (CUNY) support the IT and telecommunications needs of CUNY's 25 colleges. CIS supports enterprise IT and applications; develops new technologies that advance University's core mission; builds, upgrades and maintains the University's network; operates the University's Data Center and help desk; develops disaster recovery and business continuity plans; and leads the CUNYfirst Enterprise Resource Planning Project (ERP), which integrates 25 university systems, covering student administration, financial management, and human resources.

Under supervision, with considerable latitude for independent initiative and judgment, the Assistive Technology Specialist will test applications and services to ensure their accessibility, participate in the procurement of technologies, train CIS personnel in accessibility guidelines, and conduct research and recommend tools and services to ensure accessibility for students, faculty and staff with different disabilities. The Specialist will also provide guidance and training on websites and other CUNY-generated content both within CIS and the Central Office. Finally, the Specialist will serve on the CUNY Technology Accessibility Task Force in developing and fulfilling recommendations to ensure accessibility CUNY-wide.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

- Reviews and tests new technologies and services before they are rolled out to ensure they are accessible to those with a variety of disabilities.
- Reviews and tests existing technologies to ensure they are accessible, and recommends any necessary modifications.
- Reviews and provides input into the requirements developed in the procurement process to ensure procured products are accessible.
- Conducts research, as required, on tools and services that will best meet the needs of those with disabilities at CUNY.
- Reviews CIS websites (and other CUNY websites where necessary) for accessibility and provides guidance to remediate these sites when required.
- Creates a central website for information on accessibility at CUNY.
- Trains CIS staff (and other staff where necessary) about accessibility guidelines and modifications that will ensure CUNY-generated content, applications and services are accessible.
- Serves on the Technology Accessibility Task Force and assists in developing recommendations to the Vice Chancellor and University CIO.
- Liaises with college accessibility staff and other CUNY accessibility offices.
- Performs other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications Include:

- Experience incorporating adaptive/assistive technology solutions in a complex institution.
- Experience reviewing new technologies and solutions to be sure that they are accessible to those with a variety of disabilities.
- A thorough understanding of functionality and limitations of assistive technology such as optical character recognition (OCR) software, NVDA, and Jaws.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of legal mandates as well as compliance requirements within ADA, Section 508 and WCAG 2.0.
- Experience with Windows and Apple computer platforms, mobile applications, adaptive/assistive software, equipment, applications and devices such as screen readers and voice-recognition software.
- Experience remediating documents, especially PDFs and forms, for compliance with accessibility guidelines.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience training staff on making content accessible preferred.
- Experience working with students, faculty, and staff with disabilities in higher education preferred.