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AHEAD Professional Standards

1. Administration

Responsibilities related to the administration or management of the office serving students with disabilities.

1. Develops program policies and procedures (e.g., required documentation, course substitutions).
2. Develops program services.
3. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of emerging issues in disability services (e.g., ADD/ADHD).
4. Identifies/establishes program goals.
5. Evaluates program services.
6. Communicates program activities, services, and outcomes to institutional administrators.
7. Supervise/trains program staff.
8. Develops/administers program budget.
9. Compiles reports on program activities/services.
10. Develops program brochure and handbook.
11. Responds to requests for interpretation of legal mandates on campus-specific issues.
12. Evaluates program staff.
13. Interprets court/government agency rulings and interpretations affecting services for students.

2. Direct Service

Providing services directly to students or acting on behalf of students with members of the campus community.

1. Maintains confidential student records (e.g., documentation of disability).
2. Serves as an advocate for students with faculty or administrators.
3. Determines program eligibility for services based upon documentation of a disability.
4. Responds to inquiries from prospective students or their parents.
5. Consults with students about appropriate individualized accommodations based upon documentation.
6. Provides information to students regarding their legal rights and responsibilities.
7. Communicates information regarding program activities and services to students.
8. Consults with faculty regarding the instructional needs of students.
9. Consults with institutional administrators regarding the needs of students (e.g., department directors).
10. Consults with other campus departments regarding the needs of students (e.g., health services, residential life, admissions, counseling services).
11. Communicates information regarding program services to the campus community (e.g., admissions brochure, student catalog).
12. Arranges auxiliary aides for students.
13. Arranges individualized accommodations for students (e.g., testing accommodations).
14. Distributes program brochure or handbook to campus departments (e.g., health services, counseling services).
15. Processes complaints/grievances from students.
16. Provides personal/individual counseling to students relating to disability issues.
17. Coordinates assistants for students (e.g., notetakers, interpreters, readers).
18. Provides academic advisement to students relating to disability issues.
19. Provides counseling/advisement to enhance student development (e.g., self-advocacy).
20. Assists students in self-monitoring the effectiveness of accommodations.

3. Consultation/Collaboration

Working with campus or community personnel and agencies regarding students with disabilities or disability issues.

1. Consults with state, provincial, or community resources (e.g., rehabilitation services).
2. Collaborates with physical plant to ensure modifications to campus facilities.
3. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of adaptive technology.
4. Collaborates with campus architects to review or plan new construction and renovations.
5. Conducts campus-wide disability awareness activities (e.g., disability awareness day).
6. Communicates program activities to campus community (e.g., via campus newspapers).
7. Conducts outreach activities for high school students (e.g., college fairs, transition workshops).
8. Consults with campus personnel regarding job accommodations for faculty and campus staff with disabilities.

4. Institutional Awareness

Providing training and expertise regarding disability issues to members of the campus community.

1. Serves on campus committees to develop institutional policies and procedures regarding students with disabilities.
2. Provides training for faculty regarding awareness of disabilities.
3. Serves on campus committees addressing regulatory issues affecting students with disabilities.
4. Provides training for campus staff regarding awareness of disabilities.
5. Responsible for organizing training for campus personnel regarding the legal requirements of serving students with disabilities.
6. Provides training for faculty regarding accommodations and auxiliary aides.
7. Provides training for institutional administration regarding awareness of disabilities.

5. Professional Development

Maintaining up-to-date professional knowledge and skill.

1. Attends conferences and professional development workshops.
2. Reads professional literature related to postsecondary education and students with disabilities.
3. Holds membership in professional organizations.

For more information visit the AHEAD Web site at www.ahead.org.