[Athen] Position: Adaptive Technology Specialist at University of Wisconsin-Madison

[Charlie Jordan]

I hope ATHEN can, as a secondary goal, have impact on administrators'
perceptions about reasonable salaries and job responsibilities.

With respect to UWM's advert, even a _minimum_ of $34K seems low when
requiring a Masters, ability to provide desktop support, expertise in
adaptive hardware/software, experience with a variety of disabilities,
alt format production AND webmastering.

A disturbing perception I've encountered - and that I try to counter --
is "well, it has to do with a computer, so you must be an expert in it,
right?"  No!  Can the auto mechanic do expert upholstery?  Not likely.
And yet it seems that many expect AT specialists to fix the squeaks,
tune the engine, clean and wax to a shine, soup up the tranny, write the
owner's manual, teach the student to drive, make and pump the gas, AND
argue with Motor Vehicles about bad driving laws.

Granted, university budgets are often tight and we need to offer a
spread of competencies; we do have to wear many hats.  But, really, in a
time of increasing complexity in hardware and software and the rapidly
changing tools available, it is impossible to "do it all" well.  But it
seems that are increasingly asked to; and for that, we get 34K?

Adaptive tech specialist?  With much respect to the individuals at UWM
who probably face tough choices, thanks, no.  I'll stay with my IT role
where I have to have many hats, but at least get paid (somewhat) for
them.

Am I being unreasonable?  I don't intend to be, but I do believe that I
have a responsibility in effecting change and that means speaking up
sometimes. 

FWIW.

Charlie Jordan --
ASU's West campus
 
-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Alice Anderson
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 12:53 PM
To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network
Subject: [Athen] Position: Adaptive Technology Specialist at University
of Wisconsin-Madison

ATHEN list ... I want to share with you an

Excellent opportunity in a great city - Adaptive Technology  
Specialist Position <http://www.ohr.wisc.edu/pvl/pv_055949.html>

In achievement and prestige, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has  
long been recognized as one of America's great universities.
A public, land-grant institution, UW-Madison offers a complete  
spectrum of liberal arts studies, professional programs
and student activities. Spanning 933 acres along the beautiful  
southern shore of Lake Mendota, the campus is located in
the city of Madison <http://www.wisc.edu/about/location.php>


Alice Anderson, Director
MIDWEST Alliance for Science,Technology, Engineering and Math
www.stemmidwest.org

and

Technology Accessibility Program (TAP)
Division of Information Technology (DoIT)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1210 West Dayton Street (3124)
Madison, WI 53705
http://www.doit.wisc.edu/accessibility/
Telephone: 608.262.2129