American River College

Disability Services and Programs for Students (DSPS) Counselor/Learning Disabilities Specialist

Job Posting Number: REQ01232

Salary: $59,370.06 - $112,045.42 Annually

Closing Date: 11/2/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Complete job description and application available online at: http://50.73.55.13/counter.php?id=309756

Special Requirements

Completion and evidence of the Learning Disabilities Eligibility and Services Model (LDESM) Training Certificate from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, OR completion of the training and certificate within 1 year of the hire date.Position Summary

The faculty member shall be responsible for the following: counseling services, and/or teaching assigned classes, under the supervision of the area dean; helping students fulfill their maximum potential in mastering course content; assessing student learning outcomes; maintaining a thorough and up-to-date knowledge in their regular teaching field; continuing professional development; utilizing current technology in the performance of job duties; maintaining standards of professional conduct and ethics appropriate to the professional position; assisting with articulation and curriculum development and review; serving on college committees and participating in faculty governance including accreditation and student co-curricular activities; assuming other responsibilities as assigned by the area dean; fulfilling other duties and responsibilities of a full-time faculty member as outlined in the college faculty handbook.

The assignment may include instructing classes, which could result in a Counselor/Instructional split assignment.

The department maintains a focus on:

• Various types of disabilities, the functional limitations of those disabilities, disability law, and assistive technology

• Knowledge of trends and challenges facing community college students with disabilities

• Promoting maximum independence and integration of individuals with disabilities

• Counseling of academically and/or economically disadvantaged students

• Crisis intervention

• Universal design

• Student retention

• Career exploration and decision making

Position Salary Information:

Initial maximum salary placement is based on academic degree, upper/graduate level units earned, and/or related professional occupational experience per the Los Rios College Federation of Teachers Contract (Download PDF reader) (the initial maximum placement is Class V, Step 1). For more information on the step placement process, please click here.

American River College is committed to employees:

• Actively demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusion

• Engaging in self-reflection and continuous improvement regarding individuals and their cultural competence

• Exercising responsibility and accountability for actions

• Viewing students, ALL students, as equally capable and worthy of our care, time and energy

• Demonstrating appreciation and respect for others’ perspectives and lived experiences

Typical Duties

The assignment may include instructing classes, which could result in a Counselor/Instructional split assignment. The assignment may include, but is not limited to:

Academic/Career Counseling

• Assisting students in assessing aptitudes, abilities, and interests, including advisement on current and future employment trends for career decision making.

• Conducting intake with students with disabilities who are applying for services to verify disability documentation and determine eligibility for services.

• Developing an individualized Academic Accommodations Plan (AAP) for each eligible student to authorize specific services and reasonable accommodations.

• Developing an individualized Integrated Student Educational Plan (iSEP) for each eligible student and monitoring students’ academic progress.

• Providing services to meet students’ educational goals such as degree or certificate, transfer, vocational, skills building, and/or professional development.

• Assisting students in assessing, planning, and implementing immediate and long- range goals.

• Preparing and maintaining a cumulative counseling record for each counselee according to applicable reporting requirement, relaying pertinent information to college personnel as needed, and respecting the confidentiality of such records as required by law.

• Working with four-year colleges and universities to assist students in a smooth transition to those institutions.

• Studying the needs, interests, abilities, achievements, and aptitudes of students with disabilities, and recommending appropriate learning strategies and academic adjustments for students.

• Providing counseling and academic advising to students with disabilities and assisting these students with establishing and implementing short-term and long-term goals.

• Developing and maintaining close working relationships off campus, with outreach centers, high schools, neighboring colleges and universities, and community resource agencies, and on campus, with instructional areas, special programs, and administration regarding student success, retention, and recruitment.

• May teach classes that include college success skills, personal development, career exploration and career decision-making skills.

Personal Counseling

• Assisting students with life issues that interfere with academic success.

• Assisting students with disability management, coping, and problem-solving techniques.

Crisis Intervention

• Providing students with campus and community services directly or through cooperative arrangement.

Multi-Cultural Counseling

• Maintaining an understanding of diverse and multi-cultural backgrounds and the appropriateness of counseling approaches.

Learning Disabilities (LD) Specialist

• Administering diagnostic testing to determine eligibility for learning disabilities services in accordance with the California Community Colleges Learning Disabilities Eligibility and Services Model (LDESM).

• Meeting individually with students to discuss their diagnostic results, area of growth and strength, accommodations and academic concerns.

• Assessing and diagnosing specific learning disabilities using the current version of appropriate diagnostic instruments, e.g., the Woodcock-Johnson (WJ) Psycho-Educational Battery and Wecshler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).

• Recommending appropriate learning strategies and academic adjustments for students with specific learning disabilities.

• Assessing for ADD/ADHD through the use of appropriate evaluation measures is preferred.

• Provide strategies workshops

• Performing other duties as assigned.

The proportion of duties assigned between 'Disability Services and Programs for Students (DSPS) Counselor' and 'Learning Disabilities Specialist' shall be determined by student, department, and program needs, and may range from 0% to 100% for either function.

If instructional duties are assigned, they may include, but are not limited to, the following Human Career Development (HCD) courses:

HCD 310 – College Success

HCD 382 – Learning Strategies for College and Life

To view a complete list of courses for this discipline, please visit the Programs and Majors webpage for the specific campus:

ARC Programs and Majors

CRC Programs and Majors

FLC Programs and Majors

SCC Programs and Majors

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants are required to meet the minimum qualifications for both disciplines. All degrees must be from an accredited institution completed by January 15, 2026.

1. Disability Services and Programs for Students (DSPS) Counselor:

a. Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling

b. Master’s degree in counseling, guidance counseling, student personnel, clinical or counseling psychology, education counseling, social work, career development, marriage and family therapy, marriage, family and child counseling, OR a Bachelor’s degree in marriage and family therapy or in marriage, family and child counseling AND possession of a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT);

AND either 15 or more semester units in upper division or graduate level course work related to people with disabilities, or completion of six semester units, or the equivalent of a graduate-level counseling practicum or counseling field work courses, in a post-secondary Disabled Students Programs and Services program or in a program dealing with people with disabilities, OR two years of full time experience, or the equivalent, in one or more of the following:

(A) Counseling for students with disabilities; or

(B) Counseling in industry, government, public agencies, military or private social welfare organizations in which the responsibilities are for persons with disabilities, or the equivalent.

2. Learning Disabilities (LD) Specialist:

a. Master’s degree in learning disabilities, special education, education, psychology, speech language pathology, communication disorders, educational or school psychology, counseling, or rehabilitation counseling;

AND 15 semester units of upper division or graduate study in the area of learning disabilities, to include, adult cognitive and achievement assessment or the equivalent

3. Have an equity-minded focus, responsiveness, and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, including those with physical or learning disabilities as it relates to differences in learning styles; and successfully foster and support an inclusive educational and employment environment.

*NOTES:

Applicants must show evidence of the appropriate master's degree for those disciplines in which a master's degree is required or apply for equivalency.

Degree titles must match the stated minimum qualifications exactly (word-for-word). Titles with added, missing, or rearranged words will not be accepted. If your degree title does not match the minimum qualifications exactly, you must submit documentation for “equivalency” to be considered for this position (see next bullet). E.g. minimum qualification states Chemistry degree needed, and your degree title states Organic Chemistry. You will need to apply for “equivalency”. If you fail to submit this documentation and your degree title does not match, you will be disqualified.

Applicants applying under the “equivalent” provision must include the equivalency review request form detailing and explaining how their academic preparation and/or professional experience is the equivalent of the degree(s) listed in the minimum qualifications. Please visit our website for the form and information on the equivalency determination process.

If you have already been granted equivalency for this discipline, you must attach a copy of your determination form or letter. If you do not attach a copy of your determination form or letter you will be disqualified. If you have misplaced your copy please contact Human Resources for assistance.

Application Instructions

Applicants applying to this position are REQUIRED to complete and submit:

A Los Rios Community College District Application

Letter of Interest

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Unofficial Transcripts from College/University and/or Foreign Transcript Evaluation (see additional instructions)

Copy of Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license (if using to meet minimum qualifications)

Supplemental Questionnaire Document

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Applications submitted without all required documents listed above will be disqualified.

Applications submitted with additional materials NOT requested will be disqualified.

Only information (education, experience, etc.) listed on the application will be considered for minimum qualifications.

Applicants indicating “see resume” on the application will not have that referenced experience considered for minimum qualifications, which may lead to the application being disqualified.

Individuals who have completed college/university course work at an institution in a country other than the United States must obtain a complete evaluation of foreign transcripts, degrees, and other relevant documents, even if the foreign document has been accepted by another college/university in the United States.

Foreign transcript evaluations are ONLY accepted from AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluations, Inc.) or NACES (The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) agencies or evaluators. For additional information on foreign transcript evaluations click here (Download PDF reader).

ONLY copies of transcripts from a US College/University or Foreign Transcript Evaluation will be accepted. DO NOT include any foreign transcripts.

Graduate advising documents, certificate of degrees, diplomas, and grade reports will not be accepted as transcripts.

Do not submit additional materials that are not requested.

Job Details

Disability Services and Programs for Students (DSPS) Counselor/Learning Disabilities Specialist

About the Role: