Accessibility Coach

Accessibility Coaches in the Access and Support Centre assist students with accommodation needs in identifying a pathway to educational equity and implementing strategies for successful completion of their college goals. Coaches determine reasonable accommodations in consideration of the Ontario Human Rights Code, and coach students in building partnerships for success. Incumbents must be knowledgeable about types of exceptionalities, reasonable accommodations for post secondary education, adaptive technologies, disability legislation, family status and Creed based protected grounds. This position requires extensive student contact both one-one and in small groups, dynamic problem-solving, communication and collaboration with college faculty, support staff and administrators as well as contact with community resources, school boards and students’ individual support systems.

Caseload Management:

Determine eligibility of individual students to access services provided through the ASC based on documentation provided. Documentation includes, but is not limited to psycho-educational assessments, medical documentation and school records.

Meet with students individually to review documentation related to accommodations, the student’s experience of successful strategies, and the student’s goals.

Develop an Access plan with each student that details accommodation needs, strategies for success and the student’s role and responsibilities in implementation, and creation of partnerships for implementation, of those strategies.

Obtain student consent for communication of accommodation plans to faculty and, as appropriate for more complex accommodation needs, facilitate meeting between student and faculty members to establish details of the success plan.

Plan, implement, evaluate and consult with student, faculty and placement advisors around accommodations at placement sites

Recommend and approve student requests for the Bursary for Students with Disabilities where appropriate, and forward documentation to appropriate stakeholders to support recommendations

Consult and inform/update Director and/or other staff as appropriate

Maintain student files according to best practices for effective transfer to other professionals and to facilitate timely and accurate responses to access requests under FIPPA and PHIPPA

Provide referrals to other professionals within the ASC – e.g, Adaptive Technologist, ensuring that appropriate documentation is forwarded from the service or Case Manager.

Provide referrals to services on and off campus (e.g. Student Services, March of Dimes)

Administrative Functions:

Track ASC statistical data to be utilized for Ministry reporting. Collaborate with other coaches and technology support team to ensure consistency in data entry and recovery as well as reporting compliance.

Organize and implement campus wide awareness events individually and in partnership with other campus and community personnel.

Provide information at campus and community venues to prospective students. Promote awareness of ASC to the general public regarding the ASC as well as information about exceptionalities, barriers to access, and accommodations at the post-secondary level.