Helping hand: Special education finds many committed takers today

Muskaan, a fifth grader, has trouble hearing. But thanks to a special headset that she and her teacher wear, she is able to hear the latter. She raises her hand often during discussions, her eyes bright with curiosity. Rohit, a second grader, avoids the writing lesson, and instead talks loudly to his aide. Rohit has Asperger?s syndrome, which makes it hard for him to socialise. After several weeks, with skilled help from his teacher and instructional assistant, he is able to write alongside his classmates. If you like the idea of helping children with special needs such as these, you could consider becoming a special education teacher.

What do I have to do?

Besides teaching in the classroom, special education teachers manage learning programmes designed especially for each student. These are called individualised education programmes, or IEPs. A major part of your learning will be hands-on. You?ll observe classrooms and other settings for students with special needs. You?ll attend meetings where teachers and other professionals discuss IEPs for students.

As you interact with students, parents, and teachers, you?ll be able to polish your communication skills. You may even make contacts that will help you build your career. Before you graduate, you?ll teach students with special needs for practical experience.

Most of the special education teachers work and teach children and youth with disabilities at the elementary, middle and secondary school level. Some may work with infants and toddlers too. The teachers design and modify lessons to tailor them to individual needs. They have to learn to give a student what he needs, rather than instruct them in something the teacher imagines their needs are.

What should I study?

Educational qualifications for becoming special education teachers are the same as that for elementary or secondary school teachers. You could do your BEd, B.El.Ed or TTC before joining a course in special education. Depending on the area of specialisation, one can choose the course of study.

Training is essential, however, and one could take up a one-year diploma or do a three-year graduate course in special education. This can be a specialised programme meant for teaching children with specific learning disabilities or a generalised special education degree course.

Degrees and courses available in the field of special education are: (i) training to teach mentally retarded children (ii) training to teach children with hearing disabilities (iii) training to teach spastics and (iv) training to teach the visually impaired. The graduate courses (BEd, special education) are for teaching mentally-challenged children.

Courses cover topics such as diagnosing learning disabilities and creating plans to meet the special needs of each student.

What next?

The field of special education finds many committed takers today as awareness about students with special needs gains ground. As a special educator, one can make a significant difference in the lives of these children and their families. Often frustrating and hopeless but always challenging, it nonetheless remains a rewarding career for the committed.

In India, despite the Persons with Disabilities Act (1995), most of the services to children with disabilities are provided by private or non-governmental organisations.

You could work as a counsellor, coach, or tutor with special-needs students to gain experience. Jobs are available as special educator, physiotherapist, speech therapist, music, sports and arts and craft teacher.

Speech language therapists can work in government organisations, schools, long-term care facilities, hospitals or in creches. Occupational therapists work with children in hospitals, private clinics, long-term care institutions or rehabilitation centres. They work in a team with other professionals, working either with groups or on a one-to-one basis. Some of the allied fields of working are physiotherapy, occupational therapy, child psychology, etc.