Special Education Teacher
Specialties: Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Resource Specialists.
What does a Special Education Teacher do?
- Special Education Teachers work with physically and mentally handicapped
students to teach basic academic and living skills.
- They try to meet the individual needs of students and maximize their
potential.
- They adapt elementary and secondary school and college techniques and
methods of instruction.
- They work in schools, community colleges and colleges, hospitals,
correctional facilities, and students' homes.
- They plan curricula, prepare instructional materials, and devise special
teaching tools, techniques, and equipment.
- Students may have one or more types of disability.
- Very handicapped students may spend part or all of their time in a
resource room with other similarly handicapped students.
- Less disabled students may be mainstreamed, or integrated into the
regular classroom and assisted as often as necessary by an itinerant special
education teacher.
- Special Education Teachers work closely with the other teachers of these
students, providing materials, educating them in the special needs of the
students, and helping them cope with problems as they arise.
- They also work closely with parents and prepare reports on the progress
(assessments) of their students.
Salary and Employment Outlook:
EDD Labor
Market Information
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Career Info Net
Typical Employers:
Special education teachers are employed in public schools and government
institutions and by the Peace Corps (federal government).
Preparation:
Programs are available in many state colleges and universities and other
four-year colleges. Special Education Teachers first need to secure a basic
teaching credential, then a specialist instruction credential.
Educational Program(s):
Special Education
Related Programs: Dance, Early Childhood Education, Education Administration,
Music , Psychology , Speech Pathology and Audiology, Teacher Education-
Elementary , Teacher Education-Secondary