Special education is a field of education that focuses on students with special needs. Special education teachers help students with disabilities, learning difficulties, and developmental delays to learn and succeed in school. There are many career options in special education, including:
- Special education teacher: Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of disabilities, including physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities. They create individualized education plans (IEPs) for each student and work with other educators to provide support and accommodations to help students succeed.
- Speech-language pathologist: Speech-language pathologists work with students who have speech and language disorders. They help students improve their communication skills and may work with students who have trouble speaking, understanding language, or using language effectively.
- Occupational therapist: Occupational therapists work with students who have physical disabilities or developmental delays. They help students develop the skills they need to perform daily tasks, such as getting dressed, eating, and writing.
- School psychologist: School psychologists work with students who have emotional or behavioral disorders. They evaluate students to identify their needs and help develop plans to address those needs.
- Behavior analyst: Behavior analysts work with students who have behavior problems or developmental disorders. They use applied behavior analysis (ABA) to teach students new skills and reduce problem behaviors.
There are many other careers in special education, including assistive technology specialist, special education administrator, and educational diagnostician. No matter what career path you choose, working in special education can be incredibly rewarding as you help students with special needs reach their full potential.
