SOM ACCESS SPECIALIST

Company: University of Washington
Location: Seattle
Posted on: June 2, 2025

Job Description:

If you are using a screen reader and experience any difficulty accessing our web pages, please call 206-543-2544 or email UWHires and we will be happy to assist you. jump to contentBenefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.Although open until filled, priority application date is May 24, 2025.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

BACKGROUND

Disability Resources for Students (DRS) is a unit within the Division of Student Life. UW Student Life fosters a work environment that promotes balance, celebrates individuality, empowers innovation, and is grounded in teamwork, shared wins, and impact. Student Life forges and attracts leaders across an array of professional disciplines, united by a collaborative atmosphere and a passion for mission-driven work. In addition to working for an extraordinary university, Student Life employees enjoy a robust staff development culture; including skills training, leadership development, personal and professional networking opportunities, social outings, and the tools and support to chart a fulfilling career path. https://www.washington.edu/studentlife/working-here/

DRS is dedicated to ensuring access and inclusion for all students with disabilities on the Seattle campus enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, professional, Evening Degree and Access programs. DRS serves 7000+ students with either temporary or permanent physical, health, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities. We partner with students and faculty jointly in the process to establish accommodations, services, and access to academic programs.

At the University of Washington, diversity is integral to excellence. We value and honor diverse experiences and perspectives, strive to create welcoming and respectful learning environments, and promote access, opportunity, and justice for all. The Division of Student Life acknowledges the Coast Salish people of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot Nations. Student Life is committed to developing and maintaining an inclusive climate that honors the diverse array of students, faculty, and staff. We strive to provide pathways for success and to purposefully confront and dismantle existing physical, social, and psychological barriers for minoritized students and communities. We engage in this work while learning and demonstrating cultural humility.

At UW DRS, our diversity mission is to support the inclusion of students with disabilities by upholding their intersectional identities and eliminating the social and institutional barriers to educational access at the University of Washington. And our vision is a campus where one's full intersectional identity cannot only participate but is deemed essential in the University's achievement of academic excellence.

POSITION PURPOSE

The School of Medicine Access Specialist plays a critical role in fostering an accessible and inclusive student experience in the School of Medicine programs through two critical areas: 1) supporting students with disabilities and 2) supporting and consulting with faculty, staff, and clinical sites who work with students. Reporting to the University's Disability Resources for Students (DRS) office, the Access Specialist works directly with enrolled School of Medicine graduate and professional students with disabilities to determine eligibility for academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services, works to implement and coordinate these services in the classroom and clinical environments, and monitors their effectiveness for the students, including ensuring that the accommodations are provided by faculty and staff across the five-state Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) region and more.

The position is responsible for analysis of medical documentation, determination of appropriate and reasonable accommodations, development of programs and resources to meet identified accommodation needs, counseling students regarding their academic progress and success, and advising and assisting faculty and staff in the implementation of identified accommodations. This involves interaction among complex systems in an increasingly technical field as well as ensuring compliance with state and federal statutes. The position requires a high level of independent decision-making and professional judgment, and collaborative partnerships.

The SOM Access Specialist promotes disability awareness and advocacy in the School of Medicine and WWAMI community; providing technical and educational assistance to faculty, staff and students to ensure effective accommodation and equal access and inclusion for students with disabilities; including advising on the use of universal design concepts and principles. The position supports the development and implementation of office policies and procedures and understanding, applying and interpreting office and University policies and procedures and applicable State and Federal rules, regulations and laws. This position is housed in the School of Medicine (SOM) and works closely with SOM leadership while reporting to DRS. They will serve on campus committees and assist with special projects as requested by DRS and/or SOM leadership.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Case Management & Accommodation Counseling

• Conduct interactive intake appointments with students to determine reasonable accommodations. Advise students with disabilities regarding their rights and responsibilities in the interactive process.
  
• Review medical documentation and evaluative reports to determine eligibility for services. Refer students for assessment and/or additional documentation as necessary.
  
• Determine and coordinate approved accommodations (academic adjustments, services, and auxiliary aids) for students. Engage with students, faculty, and staff to research, identify, and facilitate the implementation of accommodations in didactic, lab, and clinical environments without compromising course and clerkship objectives, technical standards, or patient safety.
  
• Prepare and distribute letters of accommodation. Conduct follow-up meetings with students, faculty, and staff to confirm appropriate implementation.
  
• Assist prospective students in understanding transition issues for students with disabilities in entering the lab, clinical, and hospital-based environments and the process for requesting services at the university.
  
• Present an overview of DRS services for students at new student orientations, and regularly throughout the curriculum on topics related to accommodations, accessibility, and the disability management process.
  
• Provide guidance for and assist students with the submission of applications for accommodations on high stakes standardized tests and licensing exams, such as the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams.
  
• Serve as a resource for students in distress, triage their concerns and direct them to the appropriate support services as necessary.
  
• Ensure thorough and timely response to all inquiries and referrals through various systems, scheduling platforms, and email accounts. Demonstrate high levels of customer service when interacting with applicants, students, faculty, and staff. Direct stakeholders to the appropriate information resources while maintaining a welcoming and professional demeanor.
  
• Maintain current, accurate, and detailed student case management records in accordance with office and university policies and procedures.
  
• Review student complaints and grievances related to navigating program access and barriers. Propose solutions and provide advocacy and mediation while promoting a culture of continuous quality improvement.
  
  Consultation & Outreach
  
  
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with national networks of disability resource professionals in medical and other health science professional schools to establish and maintain the latest access practices in lab, clinical, and hospital-based curricula.
  
• Foster collaborative working relationships with School of Medicine faculty, staff, administration, and students, both locally in Seattle and across the five-state WWAMI region, to communicate around accommodations implementation.
  
• Promote and facilitate disability awareness, access, and inclusion through training, advocacy, and accommodations.
  
• Provide technical and instructional assistance and support for faculty and staff in implementing approved academic adjustments, clinical accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services.
  
• Develop and deliver regular presentations to a wide variety of audiences to increase awareness of student disability services, advancements in learning strategies for medical education, and other accessibility topics.
  
• Identify barriers to access and collaborate with students, faculty, and staff on initiatives to create a universally accessible environment.
  
• Interpret and apply university and School of Medicine policies and procedures, state and federal rules, regulations, and laws related to disability and access to advise students, faculty, and staff. Remain current on research and legal activity in the field to guide the development and revision of internal policies and procedures.
  
• Participate on committees, working groups, special projects, and/or initiatives as requested by the supervisors or designee.
  
  Program Operations
  
  
• Serve as a member of the DRS Access Coordinator team, including but not limited to: participating in case reviews, contributing to evaluations of the interactive process, and collaborating to achieve team goals and responsibilities.
  
• Provide quarterly reports on student demographics and needs, accommodation types and utilization, program services, and any other requested information to isolate trends, identify development areas, and guide executive decision-making.
  
• Regularly report on service satisfaction and efficacy outcomes. Design assessment surveys, compile data, and generate summary reports as needed or requested.
  
• Participate in strategic planning efforts, programming, advising and policy development pertaining to access issues and inclusion for students with disabilities.
  
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise note takers, exam readers, and other accommodations service providers as needed.
  
• Collaborate in developing simulation labs for students with disabilities to identify barriers in the clinical setting to proactively determine accommodations before entering the clinical curriculum.
  
• Participate in trainings and relevant professional development activities to support professional and/or departmental growth. Work to operationalize and/or integrate learning from these trainings into the work unit and work processes.
  
• Provide proctoring for exams as needed.
  
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisors or designee.
  
  Supervisor Responsibilities
  
  
• This position does not currently supervise any permanent employees but may supervise temporary or student employees.
  
  Research Activities
  
  
• This position conducts surveys on student satisfaction and collects data on student need and utilization for continuous quality improvement purposes. The role does not currently have any formal research duties related to publication.
  
  MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
  
  
• Bachelor's degree in education, Social Work, Rehabilitation Medicine, Psychology, Higher Education, Disability Studies, or other related field.
  
• 3 years' experience in higher education and disability, non-profit, or other disability work with working knowledge of the ADA and other federal and state disability laws.
  
  Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
  
  ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
  
  
• Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills required.
  
• Ability to interpret psycho-educational and medical evaluations for determining accommodations. Ability to read policies and procedures and interpret the information clearly and accurately to students and other internal/external customers in a manner that is easy to understand.
  
• Ability to work collaboratively as a team and independently, and to work in large, highly complex organizations and across multiple levels of an organization to achieve results.
  
• Must exercise good judgment, professionalism, and decision-making skills and maintain strict confidentiality of student information.
  
• Ability to work professionally and compassionately with students and maintain a calm and professional demeanor when communicating with disgruntled students or facing an emergency.
  
• Skill in analyzing information or situations to define a problem, identify relevant concerns, formulate logical, objective, and timely conclusions and alternatives.
  
• Must be proficient in working in a fast-paced environment and able to adapt to shifting and/or competing priorities and multiple deadlines despite frequent interruptions.
  
• Self-starting, self-directed, resourceful, flexible, dependable, proactive, detail-oriented, strong time management skills and motivated.
  
• Sensitivity and competency in working with diverse populations. Commitment to and experience in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
  
• Advanced knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operating environment and openness to new and evolving technology and technological solutions.
  
  DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  
  
• Advanced degree in education, special education, disability studies, occupational therapy, psychology, counseling, social work, or other related field.
  
• Familiarity or experience in medical education, health professions education and/or an academic environment.
  
• Experience with high stakes testing and licensing organizations.
  
• Thorough knowledge of assessment, accommodation, and intervention techniques used to determine appropriate supports and equitable access.
  
• Knowledgeable of the challenges with implementing accommodations in academic, lab, and clinical settings.
  
• Working knowledge of assistive technology in an educational setting.
  
• Knowledge of universal design and social model of disability.
  
• Ability to manage through crises and stressful situations with discretion and sensitivity.
  
  CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
  
  
• The position regularly works 40 hours per week between 8am-5pm Monday through Friday.
  
• Occasional evening and weekend hours are required to meet project deadlines, attend meetings and events, and give presentations.
  
• Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel will be required for site visits and professional development.
  
• Telework may be permissible in a limited capacity.
  
  Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your "My Jobs" page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .
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Keywords: University of Washington, Olympia , SOM ACCESS SPECIALIST, Other , Seattle, Washington