Disability Inclusion Officer at United States International University - USIU Africa

Position Purpose

• The Student Support and Disability Case Management Officer support students with disabilities to access academic programs, campus services, and student life equitably.
• The role focuses on coordinating and implementing disability accommodations, managing student support cases, and facilitating access to academic and campus environments for students with physical, visual, hearing and psychosocial disabilities.
• Working within the university’s Disability Inclusion framework, the officer collaborates with faculty, counseling services, student life units, and program leadership to ensure that students receive appropriate support while maintaining academic integrity and independence.
• This role operates as part of the Institutional Disability Inclusion Services ecosystem and does not function as a stand-alone disability support structure.

Key Responsibilities

 Disability Case Management

• Conduct structured intake meetings with students requiring disability-related support.
• Assess functional needs related to:
  • Mobility or physical disability
  • Visual impairment
  • Hearing impairment
  • Psychosocial or mental health conditions
  • Other disability-related barriers affecting participation
• Develop Individualized Support and Accommodation Plans in consultation with Disability Inclusion Services.
• Provide ongoing case monitoring and support for students with complex or evolving needs.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records and documentation.

Academic Accommodation Coordination

• Working in collaboration with Disability Inclusion Services, the Officer will maintain up-to-date information on students with approved disability accommodations.
• Responsibilities will include:
  • Collecting and maintaining records of students’ course registrations and the faculty responsible for teaching those courses.
  • Maintaining internal records of approved reasonable accommodations for students as communicated by Disability Inclusion Services.
  • Sharing relevant course enrollment information with the Assistive Technologist and Disability Inclusion Services to support accommodation planning.
  • Serving as a liaison within the scholar program to ensure students with disabilities are aware of their approved accommodations and related support processes.
  • Escalating any accommodation-related concerns raised by students with disabilities to Disability Inclusion Services for review and action.
• Accommodation communication and implementation with faculty remain the responsibility of Disability Inclusion Services and the Assistive Technologist.

Accessibility and Functional Support

• The Officer will serve as a liaison within the scholar program to ensure that accessibility needs affecting students with disabilities are communicated to the appropriate university units.
• Responsibilities will include:
  • Identifying accessibility concerns affecting students with disabilities in relation to housing, mobility, learning environments, or campus participation.
  • Documenting accessibility needs raised by students with disabilities and sharing this information with Disability Inclusion Services for review and action.
  • Referring scholars requiring assistive technologies or accessible learning materials to the Assistive Technologist and relevant university units.
  • Escalating accessibility barriers affecting students with disabilities participation in academic or residential environments to the appropriate departments through Disability Inclusion Services.
  • Implementation of reasonable accommodations relating to students with disabilities

 Psychosocial Support Coordination

• Work collaboratively with Counseling Services to support students experiencing mental health challenges that affect academic participation.
• Facilitate referrals to professional counseling or health services when needed.
• Support reintegration planning for students with disabilities returning after medical or mental health leave.
• Provide supportive check-ins while maintaining clear professional boundaries between case coordination and clinical therapy.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Act as a liaison between:
  • Students with disabilities
  • Faculty
  • Scholar program leadership
  • Disability Inclusion Services
  • Student Life Division
  • External support agencies when required
• Facilitate coordinated responses to complex student support cases.

Awareness and Capacity Building

• Support training and awareness initiatives related to disability inclusion across the scholar program.
• Promote inclusive attitudes and practices within the students with disabilities community.
• Contribute to disability awareness events and inclusive student life programming.

Qualifications

• Masters/ Degree in one of the following areas:
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Counseling Psychology
  • Rehabilitation Psychology
  • Special Needs Education
  • Social Work (with disability specialization)
• Professional registration with a recognized regulatory body is preferred.

Experience

• Experience supporting persons with disabilities in a university, clinical, rehabilitation, or social service setting.
• Experience working with individuals with:
  • Physical disabilities
  • Visual impairment
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Psychosocial or mental health conditions
• Experience in case management and academic accommodation coordination is strongly preferred.

Core Competencies

• Strong understanding of:
  • Disability inclusion principles
  • Academic accommodations in higher education
  • Accessibility and assistive technologies
  • Case management approaches for students with disabilities
  • Counselling and referral skills
• Strong skills in:
  • Stakeholder coordination
  • Problem solving and analytical thinking
  • Confidential documentation and record management
  • Professional judgment and ethical practice
  • High levels of empathy, professionalism, and integrity.

Strategic Clause (Institutional Safeguard)

All disability accommodation decisions and disability documentation processes remain aligned with the university’s Disability Inclusion policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks under Disability Inclusion Services.

Qualifications /Educational/Professional/experience)

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in the field of Social Work, Counselling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Special Needs Education, Rehabilitation Psychology, General Education and/or Studies on Disabilty Inclusion or its equivalent, a Master’s Degree will be an added advantage
• Work experience in the area of disability inclusion or its equivalent
• Membership to relevant professional bodies
• Proficiency in computer applications.

Skills & Competencies:

• Knowledge of curriculum and pedagogy techniques for inclusive education.
• Strong interpersonal & communication skills.
• Computer literacy.
• Strong Leadership, analytical & critical thinking skills.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Counselling skills and referral mechanisms