A special education teacher is someone who works with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities. Children with special needs require unique instruction by specially trained professionals to help them achieve their highest potential and strive to progress beyond their limitations. Special education teachers are patient, understanding educators dedicated to giving each individual student the tools and guidance needed to help them maximize success.
Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of special needs and disabilities. These specially-trained educators create and apply appropriate curricula and assign activities that are specific to each student’s abilities and needs. Special education teachers also involve themselves in each student’s academic, social and behavioral development.
Special needs educators assist in developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each individual student. The Individualized Education Program is designed to develop individual goals for the student and is modified to the student’s abilities and needs. Special education teachers go over the IEP with the child’s parents, general education teachers, and school administrators. They work very closely with parents to keep them updated on progress and make recommendations to promote learning in the home.
A large part of a special education teacher’s job involves communicating and coordinating with others involved in the child’s well-being, including parents, social workers, school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, school administrators, and other teachers.
Special education teachers work in a variety of settings. Some have their own classrooms and teach only special education students; others work as special education resource teachers and offer individualized help to students in general education classrooms; still others teach together with general education teachers in classes including both general and special education students. Some teachers work with special education students for several hours a day in a resource room, separate from their general education classroom. Considerably fewer special education teachers work in residential facilities or tutor students in homebound or hospital environments.
A person working as a Special Education Teacher in Kenya typically earns around Ksh138,000 per month. Salaries range from Ksh71,600 (lowest) to Ksh211,000 (highest).
Although student enrolments, in general, are expected to grow slowly, the increasing number of students requiring special education services is expected to generate demand for teachers with specialized training. Due to medical advances children are more likely to survive serious illnesses and accidents. Learning disabilities are being diagnosed at earlier ages. These factors, combined with government legislation and educational reforms focused on training and employment of individuals with special needs, are resulting in more opportunities for special education teachers. Demand for special education teachers is expected to be higher in rural areas and inner cities than in urban centres.
It takes a lot of patience, caring, and understanding to be a good special education teacher. Working with special needs students can be a challenge, and many days will be a challenge, but there are many more days that will bring triumph and a great sense of accomplishment. Becoming a special education teacher is not that different from becoming any other type of teacher. There are different types of courses, but the process is still similar.
The road to becoming a special education teacher begins with receiving a bachelor’s degree. Many students choose to get a degree in education, and there are several universities that offer a four-year degree in special education. A general education degree is not necessary as it is possible to take the education classes later on while obtaining your teaching certificate.
There are more specialized classes to take when preparing to become a special education teacher. Courses like educational psychology, legal issues in special education, and strategy courses for teachers of children with disabilities are all common. Students should take a lot of courses specializing in children with special needs.
