Please see Special Instructions for more details.

This will be open till filled; however, the first review of applicants will begin on August 18, 2026.

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title

Accessibility Services Lead

Position Summary The Accessibility Lead provides strategic, supervisory, and advanced qualified leadership within Accessibility Services at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP). This position oversees the daily work, performance, and service delivery practices of the Accessibility Services team, ensuring consistent, equitable, and legally compliant accessibility supports across the institution.

In addition to supervising staff, the Accessibility Lead maintains a specialized caseload of students with complex accessibility needs, including multi‑barrier cases and inquiries related to Protected Grounds under the Alberta Human Rights Act as well as fit-to-practice cases. As RDP’s primary authority on Duty to Accommodate and Protected Grounds as applied to students, the Accessibility Lead guides complex decision‑making, supports institutional compliance, and liaises with areas across campus advancing accessibility, inclusion, and universal design throughout the Polytechnic learning workplace.

Position Responsibilities

Accessibility Services Team Leadership :

- Under the direction of the Associate Dean, recruits, hires, and initiates annual performance review for Accessibility Services team, and where necessary, in compliance with People and Culture policies and procedures and collective agreements, escalates issues and actions to supervisor
- Prepares and monitors staff & student schedules and assigns workloads/caseloads to staff, based on service needs and the part-time employee budget allocation
- Directs the day-to-day operations of direct report(s)
- Plans, organizes, and coordinates formal and informal orientation and training of employees under direct supervision
- Coordinates and allocates workload, approves, monitors, and reports vacation, timesheets, leave requests and other absences in conjunction with supervisor
- Liase with Academic Schools and RDP departments to guide processes for smooth implementation and application of accommodations across the campus, including Testing Services, Registar’s Office, other Student Experience departments, Residence, Campus Management etc.
- Collaborate with the Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship to advance Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles across instructional design and teaching practice.
- Address workflow barriers, service delays, documentation concerns, or coordination challenges that arise within the team.

Assessment of Need and Coordination of Accessible Services and Accommodations:

- Identify and assess the impacting barriers and needs of students and collaborate with them to develop action plans, accommodations, and recommendations to support their success as a learner at RDP.
- Case manager for: students with protected grounds accommodation requests that are non-medical in nature; students with complex medical accommodations such as multiple barriers; students at high-risk or escalated situations.
- Oversee identification, referral, and evaluation of illness or injury affecting safe participation in Health program related labs, or clinicals ensuring alignment with institutional procedures. Review medical and professional records including Attending Physician and Functional Abilities forms, and issue Fitness to Practice memos or Modified Study Offers outlining fit, unfit, or modified‑fit status in alignment with institutional procedures.
- Determine the need for individualized emergency planning and/or medical support for students while on campus and communicate requirements to appropriate service areas and Instructors.
- Assess student aid disability funding eligibility, provide information on eligible funding options and support current students in applying for funding (i.e., federal and provincial Schedule 4 grant funding, Bursaries, Awards, Disability Tax Credit).
- Represent Red Deer Polytechnic as a designated school official/reviewer for Schedule 4 applications by adhering to the Schedule 4 guidelines, reviewing applications and documents, and reconciling previous submissions.

Management of Accessibility Case Management Database:





- Develop and implement reports in data system, maintain comprehensive data and statisticsto track trends in student needs, assistive technology usage, and accommodation patterns;
- Liaise with IT Services and software developers to efficiently troubleshoot errors and maintain/update the Accessibility case management database.
- Set standards for standardized CW definitions and data entry and work with Testing Services and faculty to ensure that information/communication coming from Accessibility database meets their needs; provide information and reporting to Testing Services, Schools etc to assist them with proactive planning for accommodation delivery.
- Maintain appropriate and confidential file management practices following POPA/ATIA guidelines and other legal requirements.
- Assist with the collection, organization, and provision of data in responding to POPA/ATIA requests. Understand and appropriately recommend a variety of low and high intensity assistive technologies, resources, referrals, and reference materials to support diverse learner needs.

Accessibility Services Department Service Delivery:

- Lead the creation, implementation, and continuous improvement of Accessibility Services procedures, workflows, and documentation standards.
- Recommend operational or staffing adjustments based using evidence based decision making
- Audit complex case files handled by Coordinators to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with institutional and legislative requirements, and directly manage high‑risk, precedent‑setting, or multi‑barrier cases that require advanced expertise.
- Maintain data integrity, reporting accuracy, and compliance with POPA/AITA and other regulatory standards across all Accessibility Services systems.
- Participate in recruitment, contracting, and oversight of external service providers such as interpreters, CART providers, and other specialized accessibility supports.
- Provide presentations, training sessions, and awareness initiatives related to accessibility, inclusion, Universal Design, and Protected Grounds.
- Participate in educational and celebratory events aimed at reducing stigma and promoting inclusion for diverse student populations.

Professional Growth and Sector Engagement:

- Maintain current knowledge of accessibility legislation, assistive technology trends, disability‑related assessment practices, and post‑secondary accommodation standards. Participate in professional development, conferences, and committees (e.g., PADRA). Support staff learning through mentorship, coaching, and knowledge‑sharing. Regularly familiarize oneself with policy and procedure to meet user needs expediently and accurately.
- Engage in provincial and national accessibility networks (e.g., PSPSD, CADSPEE) to share expertise, align practices, and maintain sector awareness.

Required Qualifications

- Four (4) year undergraduate degree, or three (3) year undergraduate degree plus one full additional year of university in a related program representing four years of study or equivalent.
- Please specify which program is required for this role: Education, Disability Studies
- Criminal Record Check Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is committed to ensuring the safety of staff, learners and visitors to campus and requires all employees in this position to provide a satisfactory check in accordance with the Polytechnic’s Criminal Record Check Policy prior to the start of their employment. The Check must be dated no more than 90 days prior to your start date.

Preferred Qualifications

- Master’s degree or equivalent preferably in Education, Disability Studies.
- Experience managing complex accessibility or Protected Grounds cases, including multi‑barrier student situations, high‑risk cases, or cases requiring advanced accommodation planning.

Knowledge of assistive technologies, disability documentation,



psycho‑educational assessments, and functional impact analysis.

- Knowledge of Alberta and Canadian Human Rights legislation and Duty to Accommodate
- Experience working with students with barriers and/or disabilities in a post-secondary environment and the integration of accommodations that do not violate the integrity of the course/program outcomes.

- Demonstrated experience supervising staff and leading a team
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and advising skills.
- Expertise in the inclusion of exceptional learners and accommodations for students.

- Proven team player with excellent collaboration skills.
- Problem-solving attitude to approaching issues, while exercising independent judgment and ethical decision-making with a minimum amount of supervision.
- Knowledge of tools, services, and technologies that can enhance learning.

- Knowledge of various disabilities, and neurodiversities, assessment techniques and psycho-educational assessments.
- Knowledge about the academic, social, and emotional impact of functional limitations.
- Familiarity with funding policies and procedures

- Maintain a student-centered approach to service as well as fostering an atmosphere of trust and integrity.

Salary or Hourly?

Salary

Salary

$87,273 annually

Benefits and Compensation Information

Benefits and Compensation Information:

Red Deer Polytechnic offers a comprehensive benefits package including extended health and dental care through Blue Cross, access to a health spending account, pension plan, Employee & Family Assistance Program, generous vacation allotments, credit tuition waivers and opportunities for professional development funding. Additional time off due to Institution closures between Christmas and New Year general holidays.

- Eligibility to access the above-mentioned benefits dependent upon the AUPE Collective Agreement and related RDP policies.

About Red Deer Polytechnic Focused on advancing the economic and social priorities of Alberta, Red Deer Polytechnic(RDP) provides more than 100 industry-relevant credit and non-credit programs to approximately 11,000 credit, non-credit and apprenticeship students. With modern teaching and learning spaces, and state-of-the-art research and innovation centres, RDP provides education and applied research opportunities in partnership with industry and communities.

Red Deer Polytechnic’s main campus is located on Treaty 7, Treaty 6 and Métis ancestral lands. This is where we will strive to honour and transform our relationships with one another.

Whatever brings you to Red Deer Polytechnic, we are glad you are here. And we look forward to having you as a valued member of our polytechnic community.

Posting Detail Information

Competition Number

2026-A-134

Employment Type

Permanent Full-Time

Number of Vacancies

1

Desired Start Date

09/21/2026

Position End Date (if term-certain)

FTE

1.0

Hours of Work

Mondays-Fridays, between 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM

Open Date

08/11/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Yes

Note to Applicant

Red Deer Polytechnic fosters an inclusive learning and working environment where everyone can bring their full selves and share their unique talents. We are committed to being responsive to the evolving needs and expectations of our diverse community.

At RDP, we are committed to a merit-based hiring process, and we believe in an inclusive workplace that is fair, equitable, supportive, welcoming and respectful. We recognize, value, and leverage differences in identities, abilities, background, cultures, skills, experiences, and perspectives. Our practices are guided by the principles of the Alberta Human Rights Act and support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.

If you believe you have the skills and equivalent experience and potential to contribute to this role, we encourage you to apply

Red Deer Polytechnic will provide job applicants with accommodations in accordance with the Alberta Human Rights Code. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected].

Special Instructions to Applicants

This will be open till filled; however, the first review of applicants will begin on August 18, 2026.

Required Documents

- Cover Letter

- Resume

Optional Documents

📌 Accessibility Services Lead (Red Deer)
🏢 Red Deer Polytechnic
📍 Red Deer