Special education professionals work to promote students' overall
behavioral, social and academic growth. Special education professionals
aide students in developing socially appropriate behavior within their
family, school and community. Teachers of special education help
students become more confident in their social interactions. Special
education professionals administer activities that build students' life
skills.
What Does the Job Entail?
Are
you interested in helping others? Can you handle and care for people
who learn differently and have other behavioral problems? Do you want
to make a difference in a young child's life? If you answered "yes" to
any of these questions, then you might consider a career in special
education. Below is a breakdown of the short and long-term
responsibilities of a special education teacher.
First and
foremost, special education teachers focus on the development and
academic needs of children with disabilities. They encourage learning
in disabled students by implementing educational modules and behavioral
techniques. Special education teachers work alone or with general
education teachers to individualize lessons, develop problem-solving
techniques and integrate children into group projects with other
students. Furthermore, special education teachers are responsible for
ensuring that the needs of disabled children are met during assessment
periods.
Did you know that special education teachers work with a
team of professionals, qualified staff and family in order to fulfill
their job requirements? It is true. In fact, special education
teachers work in conjunction with these entities to create an
Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student. An IEP is
designed in collaboration with a child's parents, school principal,
social worker, speech pathologist and general education teacher to
ensure effective implementation. An IEP targets a student's needs and
growth areas for maximum response. The specialized goals set by the
IEP are woven throughout all aspects of a child's daily activities.
Teachers of special education must monitor a child's setbacks and
progress and report back to parents and administrators. Planned goals
and tasks are outlined for family members to refer to while a student
is at home as well.
The types of disabilities a special education
teacher might encounter are difficult to predict. For one, the
qualifications for special education services vary greatly from mild
disabilities to extreme cases of mental retardation or autism. Types of
disabilities include, but are not limited to, the following: speech
impairments, hearing disabilities, emotional disturbances, orthopedic
impairments, brain trauma cases, blindness, deafness and learning
disabilities.
Do You Exhibit These Qualities?
Now that you have an idea of the job's demands, let's see if you have the right qualities to be a special education teacher.
Recognize the symptoms and needs of special needs students
Patience
Ability to work with one or more parties to achieve short-term and long-term goals
Strong communication skills
Ability to motivate others
Ability to multi-task
Knowledge of the most recent education modules, medical research and behavioral practices
Taking the Next Step toward a New Career
Once you have decided to enter the field of special education, you will need to follow several steps. Due to the specialization of the field, special education teachers in all 50 states must receive licensure before employment. Licensures are approved by each state's board of education, and the requirements for certification differ between states. Nevertheless, the growing shortage of special education teachers has led institutions of higher education to offer more special education degree and certification programs. In fact, special education degrees are offered at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels throughout the nation. Not to mention, the booming field of distance learning has made certification more accessible from any location in the United States.
In many cases, hopeful special education professionals do not meet the requirements of special education licensure due to their prior completion of degree programs outside of the field of education. Therefore, several states have begun to offer alternate forms of certification. The hope of these programs is to attract new special education professionals and fill the growing need for teachers. The chance to positively impact the lives of special needs children is one of the driving motivations and benefits of entering this field.
After several years, some special education teachers look for new opportunities within their field. In the most common situations, special education professionals transfer to administrative or supervisory positions. Others, after receiving a higher degree, become college professors and educate new students in the field of special education. Experienced teachers of special needs students have also moved up to serve as mentors to incoming special education teachers.