Assistive Technology and Inclusion Specialist in Catcliffe

Location: Multi Site (Working across all RNN Group sites in Rotherham and Worksop)

Salary: £32,515 a year + benefits

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full time (37 hours each week, all year-round)

Closing Date: 27th July 2026

In the 2026 educational landscape, technology is the ultimate tool for equity. We believe that when we design for accessibility, we improve the learning experience for everyone. To ensure our high-tech innovations leave no one behind, we are seeking a passionate, tech-savvy Assistive Technology Specialist to champion the success of our SEND learners.

As the Assistive Technology Specialist, you will act as the "Ethical Compass" and "Accessibility Lead" for the Digital Innovation & AI department. Reporting directly to the Digital Learning Manager, you will ensure that the college's digital ecosystem from AI-driven speech-to-text to immersive sensory environments is inclusive by default, not by exception. You are more than a technical expert; you are a coach, an advisor, and a lead advocate for inclusive practice. While others focus on how to teach or how content looks, your focus is entirely on how it is accessed. You will work at the heart of the curriculum to ensure that "Reasonable Adjustments" are transformed from administrative paperwork into active, empowering digital realities.

In 2026, the primary challenge lies in keeping pace with the rapid, weekly evolution of AI-powered assistive tools; constantly researching and vetting new software to ensure it is safe, effective, and compatible. Additionally, you will champion the culture of "Inclusion by Design," navigating the human challenge of convincing time-poor curriculum teams to build accessibility into their resources from the very beginning, rather than as an afterthought.

Key Responsibilities

• Specialist Learner Support: Provide direct, hands‑on support to SEND learners, equipping them with the personalised digital toolkits they need to access the curriculum with confidence and independence.
• Staff Inclusion Training: Design and deliver specialised training for teaching and support staff, empowering them to embed inclusive digital practices into daily lessons.
• Accessibility Consultancy: Advise the department and the wider college on WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliance, ensuring all digital platforms and resources are legally and ethically accessible.
• Barrier Removal & Auditing: Proactively audit curriculum materials to identify and eliminate digital "blockers," adapting learning materials to meet the needs of diverse student cohorts.
• Reasonable Adjustments: Lead the classroom implementation of digital reasonable adjustments, leveraging technology to level the playing field for assessments and activities.
• Policy Contribution: Contribute to the development of inclusive digital policies, ensuring SEND requirements remain at the forefront of the Group's over‑arching AI and Digital Strategy.
• Intervention & Escalation: Act as a critical link between students and academic teams, escalating complex accessibility or technical framework issues to senior staff for swift resolution.

Key Role Objectives

• Learner Independence: Measurably increase the ability of SEND students to work and study independently through the mastery of assistive software and hardware.
• Institutional Compliance: Ensure 100% of the Group's primary digital learning resources meet or exceed current WCAG accessibility standards.
• Capability Building: Raise the institutional baseline of inclusive teaching, ensuring all faculty members can confidently use standard assistive tools within the VLE.

You will

We are looking for a compassionate, resilient, and highly organised professional who believes that accessibility is a fundamental right.

• SEND & Assistive Tech Expertise: Proven experience working with SEND learners and a deep technical understanding of assistive software, hardware, and emerging AI accessibility tools.
• Accessibility Standards: Strong working knowledge of WCAG compliance and digital inclusion best practices.
• Educational Background: Experience working within an FE/HE, training provider, or alternative provision environment.
• Collaborative Communicator: Ability to build strong partnerships with the Quality Team, IT technicians, and SEND Leads to bridge the gap between infrastructure and individual learner needs.
• Cultural Influencer: Excellent coaching and advocacy skills, with the resilience needed to drive cultural and pedagogical change across diverse staff teams.

You will hold a Level 2 (or equivalent) qualification in English and Maths (or be willing to undertake) and a degree level (or equivalent) qualification in special education, digital accessibility or IT as well as a specialist certification in assistive technologies or digital accessibility would be desirable.

We understand that no candidate will perfectly match every qualification or criterion listed. If your experience differs from what we've outlined but you believe you can contribute to this role, we encourage you to apply!