Teaching children with disabilities requires certain qualities in the teachers which include patience, ability to motivate, understanding their needs, being organized and compassionate without feeling pity. The last quality is essential so that children with disabilities do not feel that they are any less than the others and respond to the education programs well. Children who have different learning styles and needs may have a cognitive disability or physical disability. These umbrellas cover a wide spectrum of diagnosis that generally fit into one of these two broad categories.
Teaching Degree for Special Education
A license is required for the teachers to specialize in teaching children with disabilities. A specific special education teacher training program is required through a practicum. There are online teaching degrees available that allows people to earn a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree. Some of the states accept and employ only the Master’s degree holders.
The Bachelor’s degree usually includes detailed study of emotional disturbance, language or speech impairments, traumatic brain injury, visual impairments, autism, learning disabilities and deafness. Various techniques are taught in various degree courses. Even doctoral degrees are available for people interested in special education.
PhD Programs in Special Education Through Online Education
The duration of these degree courses is more than the traditional Bachelor or Master’s degree courses. The Bachelor degree courses in special education are around four years and there is a possibility that the duration will increase to five years. The state board of education is responsible for granting licenses to the special education teachers. The last year of these degree courses are generally utilized in spending time teaching in actual special education programs. Those pursuing a PhD program in special education may opt for obtain this teaching degree online. These courses are specifically tailored to people who are already working in the field.
State Special Education Law
All 50 states in the United States require at least a Bachelor’s degree along with a preparation program with some compulsory subjects. A professional assessment test must be given after a person completes the course and before applying for a job. The person also should have undergone supervised practiced teaching. Licenses of the teachers can be transferred from one state to the other.
Some of the states have come up with other methods of providing licenses. This way graduates and people in other educational professions can opt for a job in special education. Supervised preparation and assessment tests are required for such people also. Since the job requires the teachers to be highly attentive to the needs of children with disabilities. The academic year of a special education programs is one year however, for the teachers it the same ten month duration. The job definitely involves more deliberate involvement of the teachers in the well being of the children. The success of the students speaks of the success and special talents of the teachers.
Special education teachers find the task interesting as well as challenging. The whole dynamics of teaching children with disabilities is different from any other. The teachers already possess the mind to help people and children, and a profession like this compliments their personality.
Resource: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Special Education Teachers
Jennifer Terry - Jennifer Terry has worked to promote self-determination and consumer education for 10 years. She has been writing since 2004 and has been ...
