Careers

Description:

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.