Description

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title
Access Consultant (1864)

Classification
Program Assistant - CUSTOM CLASSIFICATION

Position Number
00001864

Open Date
10/02/2025

Close Date
10/19/2025

Priority Review Date

Employee Class
Staff

Full-Time/Part Time
Full-Time

FTE
1.00

Position Status
Regular

FLSA
Exempt

Job code
5001

Union Representation
Union

Union Code
AFC - AFSCME C, Local #1890

Unit/Department
Disability Resource Center

College/Unit
Student Affairs Central

Division
Student Affairs

Location
HS 411

Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page
TBD

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

Northern Illinois University Disability Resource Center ( DRC ) offers guidance, services, and resources to help you access the NIU experience. We will work with our students to determine their needs and develop a plan to meet their comprehensive needs. Promoting self-advocacy and communication skills, we focus on helping students create collaborative relationships with faculty and staff. Our office works to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students and the campus community.

Position Summary

The Access Consultant conducts the interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, resulting in students gaining access to curricular and co-curricular environments supported through legal mandates. Emphasis is on developing a deep relationship with students in an effort to better understand how the educational environment impacts access. Additionally, collaboration and communication with faculty and the general campus community is important in an effort to promote universal design and reframing disability. Effective communication with parents, campus partners, and university resource offices, as needed, is also critical.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Accommodations Coordination - 30%

1. Conduct initial conversation with students, faculty, and staff to identify barriers to fully access campus participation.
2. Determine reasonable accommodations based on experience with and advanced knowledge of best practices in the field of disability services, rehabilitation counseling, and ADA law.
3. Teams with DRC staff to facilitate implementation of accommodations: accommodated test proctoring; document conversion; accommodated housing and dining requests, etc.

Communication & Documentation - 30%

1. Collaboratively communicate with faculty/instructors and other University personnel to coordinate the effective delivery and implementation of reasonable accommodations.
2. Vigilant in maintaining timely required written records that document the DRC process including the determination of specific accommodations in an effort to provide appropriate services and maintain compliance.

Maintain & Interpret Disability Education - 20%

1. Maintain current knowledge of "Best Practices in Higher Education" as it relates to disability services delivery as framed by the social model of disability.
2. Understand and interpret various forms of disability documentation including IEPs, 504 Plans, psycho-educational testing, medical records, summary plans of performance, and how these third-party sources of documentation interact with established reasonable accommodations.
3. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Process Development & Improvement - 20%

1. Actively participate in the continuous improvement process related to the design, delivery, evaluation, and revision of departmental services, procedures, processes, and activities.
2. Work with students in understanding what educational technology they use or may use in the determination of reasonable accommodations and are able to instruct/demonstrate how to use and trouble shoot technology compatibility issues.
3. Develop, facilitate, and administer programming for specific disability-related populations such as support groups, mentoring programs, student organizations, leadership opportunities, and the technology accessibility committee.
4. Work with students individually and in groups to discuss accommodations with faculty, increase study strategies, and academic coaching.

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

1. Bachelor's degree.
2. Based on position requirements, additional education, training, and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position, may be required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

1. Knowledge of general office practices and procedures
2. Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
3. Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects
4. Skill in oral and written communication
5. Ability to work effectively with staff, the public, and outside constituency groups
6. Ability to organize and multi-task
7. Ability to supervise and knowledge of administrative concepts and methods.
8. Ability to utilize various computer software packages
9. Ability to work independently and exercise judgment in order to be able to analyze and investigate a variety of questions or problems

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

1. At least one (1) year of experience working with individuals with disabilities.
2. At least one (1) year of experience granting and implementing accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

• Master's degree in a field related to Student Personnel work; Disability Studies; Counseling; Rehabilitation Counseling; Social Work; Special Education; Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.
• Any one or more of the following licenses/certifications:
  • Licensed Professional Counselors ( LPC )
  • Certified Rehabilitation Counselor ( CRC )
  • Licensed Social Worker ( LSW )
  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor ( LCPC )
• Minimum of one (1) year (12 months) working in a disability related field or providing direct services in student services (beyond internship).
• At least two (2) year of experience working with individuals with disabilities.
• At least two (2) year of experience granting and implementing accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge, training, or experience in State and Federal laws related to Disability Rights, ADA , Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• Knowledge of universal design and social model of disability.
• Organizational skills related to case management.
• Multiple identity development.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity.
• Demonstrated communication skills including public speaking.
• High level of comfort and proficiency with desktop computer applications.

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Additional Requirements (SPS)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Physical demands/requirements

• Ability to sit, stand and work on computers for long periods of time.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date
11/01/2025

Anticipated Appointment End Date

Percent of Staff Year
1.00

Standard Hours Per Week
37.50

Working Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, some evenings & weekends as needed.

Salary
$42,100.08 - $45,500.16/annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package.

Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range
$1,754.17 - $1,895.84/semi-monthly

Earn Type
Salary

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedures:

1. Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.
   • If eligible for Veteran's Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.
2. After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.
3. Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu . Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.
4. Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.

Credentials Assessment Examination:

• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
• Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver's license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
• After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

Additional Details:

• Click on Program Assistant for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
  • Applicants who may assume they do not meet the exact minimum qualifications are still invited to apply. Within the application documents, applicants should be sure to explain how their credentials and related qualifications address the requested minimum requirements.
• Please click on Human Resource Services - Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University's benefits package.
• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Special Instructions

Quick Link to Applicant
https://employment.niu.edu/postings/87090

Is Background Check Required?
Yes

EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services Building Room 230
TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu
815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form . For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity ( AAEO ) at ada@niu.edu .

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.
Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report .
Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Optional Documents

1. List of References
2. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
3. Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Are you currently a citizen or resident of the State of Illinois?
   • Yes
   • No
2. * What is the highest level of education attained?
   • GED
   • High School Diploma
   • Associates Degree
   • Bachelors Degree
   • Masters Degree
   • PHD
3. * How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?
   • 0-1
   • 1-3
   • 3-5
   • 5-7
   • 7+
4. * If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
   • Yes
   • No
   • Not Applicable