Senior Assistive Technology Specialist

Company: Pearson
Location: Montgomery
Posted on: February 25, 2021

Job Description:

Description Pearson is the world's learning company with more than 24,000 employees operating in 70 countries. We combine world-class educational content and assessment, powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teaching and personalized learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. The Senior Assistive Technology Specialist provides leadership in the research and technical discovery of assistive technology capabilities and coordinates and facilitates direct interaction with testing candidates who are requesting assistive technology accommodations in testing environments. This role will also provide primary support for training and troubleshooting related to the use of assistive technology and work with a variety of teams both inside and outside of Pearson to create assistive technology solutions to meet the needs of testing candidates. Due to the unique accommodations cases that are handled, the Senior Assistive Technology Specialist must think critically, problem-solve, and work flexibly and collaboratively with both candidates and other Pearson VUE staff to design unique solutions for candidates. Major Responsibilities Conduct thorough research on a wide range of assistive technology hardware and software. Develop a thorough understanding on the different types of assistive technologies and the intended user base for each type of technology. Work with vendors to stay informed of trends in the use of assistive technology, including the release of new products and the changes in functionality and capabilities of existing assistive technology. Understand and be able to advise development teams regarding the impacts to assessment security when various types of assistive technology, and features within specific assistive technologies, are used. Advise development teams on how to provide access to assistive technology features within secured environments. Make recommendations on the purchase of assistive technology hardware and software for candidate use in our test centers and for internal testing efforts. Recommendations should be based on market trends and product capabilities. Proactively research release schedules of commonly used assistive technologies and interpret release notes to make recommendations of when Pearson should upgrade licenses to purchased assistive technology or replace hardware based on product features. Create documentation for both technical and non-technical audiences to explain how to configure and use assistive technology successfully. Create training materials that are engaging and provide opportunities to interact with assistive technology and Pearson content. Provide training to teams on the purpose for, configuration of, and use of assistive technology. Create and edit training videos that demonstrate the capabilities of assistive technology features. Serve as the primary contact for test center and VSS agent escalations for inquiries related to configuration and use of assistive technology on VUE assessments. Research technical issues regarding the use of assistive technology within Pearson platforms and products and facilitate timely resolutions. Assist accessibility and product teams with evaluating the interoperability of assistive technologies with Pearson-developed platforms and products. Identify potential conflicts with assistive technology features and tools that are embedded within platforms and products. Identify gaps in processes and procedures that impact the candidate experience or pose a potential business risk. Maintain laptops for use with unique assistive technology accommodation solutions. Research and report on assistive technology accommodation solutions usage by VUE candidates. Maintain test accommodation fulfillment calendar to ensure availability of assistive devices/equipment. Advise supervisor of equipment/software needs and condition of inventory. Facilitate the global shipping and tracking of special equipment for candidates with disabilities including working with our shipping vendor. Identify methods/document processes for international delivery of special equipment, including handling customs regulations and security requirement. Other duties as assigned. Physical Demands/Environmental Factors/ Mental Demands Frequent use of standard office equipment Prolonged sitting Occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting Repetitive hand motions (keyboarding and use of mouse) Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 20 pounds) May work prolonged and irregular hours Occasional out-of-state and statewide travel Work with frequent interruptions Maintain emotional control under pressure Ability to adapt to frequently changing technologies The anticipated starting salary range for Colorado-based individuals expressing interest in this position is 85k. This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. Benefits available to eligible employees can be seen at: https://pearsonbenefitsus.com/ Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Qualifications Education Bachelor's Degree in education or a related field such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Psychology, Special Education, Social Work, or Assistive Technology. Certification(s) or Required Training Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) obtained through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) Certification in the field of assistive technology or current progress toward obtaining a valid certification Experience 3-5 years of experience the assistive technology field required Special Knowledge and Skills Functional knowledge of disability categories and the accessible materials and assistive technologies designed to support people with diverse needs Understanding of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Understanding of the principles of universal design and universal design for learning Ability to use common assistive technologies such as Job Access With Speech (JAWS), Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA), speech-to-text software, screen magnification software, communication boards, and adaptive switches. Ability learn and adapt to new technologies quickly Exemplary written and verbal communication skills Ability to develop relationships within the assistive technology community Demonstrated ability to leverage free training resources and to initiate and manage the acquisition of new skills as needed to meet job requirements. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access this site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing ppsmhr@pearson.com . Please follow the links to "EEO is The Law" , which describes the Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, equal pay, disability or genetic information, and the "EEO is the Law Supplement" which has additional information for Federal Contractors. The Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision provides applicants and employees notice that Pearson will not discriminate against them for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing their pay or, in certain circumstances, the pay of their co-workers. Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, disability status, veteran status, national origin or any other characteristic protected by law.

Keywords: Pearson, Danbury , Senior Assistive Technology Specialist, IT / Software / Systems , Montgomery, Connecticut