Hiya… as a mother of a child with Down Syndrome & Autism, and a newly diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have to say – work with special education!!!

It depends on the school district as to your placements in your classroom and if you’re qualified to deal with behavioral problems, reading/learning disorders and/or those with mental and/or physical challenges.

I have to say – My son is an absolute riot and we’re fortunate to have his Autism softened by the Down Syndrome. If you choose special education, make sure you involve yourself with the kids’ Special Olympics Team!!! You will laugh, cry and find the most satisfaction in your day! I promise you!

I would take a dozen kids with special needs if finances would allow!!! God bless! We need more people like you!!!

Remember: Watch out for our children with disabilities, as there is much abuse within the educational field toward our children. My son was abused by his regular ed teacher and aide in 2002. The details are gruesome but I can happily say that we are on the mend and enjoying life to the fullest!

Hi

I have been a special education teacher for the last 11 years. It is a job that goes well beyond the pay and well beyond the school hours. Often you do not receive the recognition you deserve. It is a rewarding job and that often makes up for the tough days. You have to go into the job with more than a desire to help. You need to be strong and show inner strength when things get tough. Children need consistencyand boundaries and that is something you must learn immediately.

I enjoy my job and work with behaviour problem students. It is tough and often you bear the brunt ofother peoples anger but sometimes you get a ray of hope.

I have since completed a Masters in Special Education and love it!

Spend a day in a few different special ed settings to see which you feel more comfortable in – behaviour, physical, learning, emotional etc. they are all very different and each person can cope better in one than in the other.

Good luck

Go with your heart it will tell you which choice to make

As a special education teacher since the 90s, I would certainly advise you to stay away from the behavioral disordered student population. These students, unfortunately, are headed for prison in most cases. In seven years, I think I only saw one graduate high school. Most spend their 9th and 10th grade years in and out of jail until the do something “bad” enough to keep them imprisoned and out of school. Drugs, guns, and physical violence are not uncommon, but if they have a behavioral disorder and not incarcerated, the school must provide educational services in some way. This way – decided by the school system, not necessarily you, may or may not put you in harm’s way. Would you want to meet the local drug dealer at the local library afterschool?? It is reality. If you aren’t deciding between law enforcement and educational, please consider working with students with mental retardation or in the occupational therapy field.

Between special education and the therapy…think about what you’d like to study in school. Biology? Educational psychology? What would you like to do more of? Working one-on-one with a student a session or two a week? Planning and implementing lesson plans?

If you can handle the biology aspects and are wanting some career flexibility, I think I would choose the OT pathway.

Still deciding? Call the local Special Olympics office, cerebal palsy school, etc and ask if you can volunteer a day or two? See if you can find your niche.

Best wishes

I know most people have replied to go for the teacher, but I say go for the occupational therapy. For many reasons but the main one is schools can not find them. A teacher who is not special ed teacher can teach special ed for a year while working on taking a few classes, but they can not do occupational therapy withoout that degree. School are desperate when in comes to finding therapist. If you were looking at speech therapy you would have schools knocking down your door wanting you.

Therapist for schools are few and far between. Plus if you take occupational therapy, then decide you are not “into” the whole school idea, you can always work at a hospital therapy unit. If you go for teacher, then you ARE a teacher.

Don’t get me wrong, I have extreme respect for special education teachers (I am a one on one aide for special ed kids). I could not do their job.

Make a list of pros and cons for each job and think about it with your head, but decide from your heart.

Most special education teachers have chosen this career because they have a strong desire to help people with learning differences. The vast majority have had experience with a special needs child from having one in their families. This sparks their interest and leads them to help others like other teachers helped their family members.

The job is very rewarding but it is also very stressful. Class sizes are small with some teachers working one-on-one with students depending on the nature and severity of the problem. However, there is lots of paperwork as everything must be documented. Computerized forms have helped out a bit but there is still loads of paperwork that needs to be completed.

Why don’t you volunteer in a school and work with some teachers to get an idea of what the job is like? This is the best way to decide if this an area of work that would be acceptable and rewarding to you.

Best of luck to you!

I am also a special education teacher – I teach those with behavioral disorders that were mentioned above. It’s as hard as they say.

Personally, I would become an OT. They have the coolest job! They get to study about and implement innovative and amazing techniques to help students with all sorts of troubles. For example, one of my students has a puzzling problem that no one can really diagnose. Some say he has a form of autism, some say he has ODD, mental impairment.. the list goes on. What is certain is that noises bother him. The OT got involved and now he is in listening therapy. I don’t know if it is working yet, but we are going to see!

Another one of my students has FAS, but his behaviors overshadow everything. The OT has worked with him to determine that he has a difficult time knowing where his body is. In order to calm him, we run through a series of movements that help him be aware of his body.

Our OT is amazing… and with enough information, her therapy can make a real difference in a child’s ability to learn and participate in his/her environment. Plus, if a child is truly difficult, she can “send them back” to class once the OT sessions are over. 🙂

Best of luck to you and I applaud you for your desire to help exceptional children! I am a faculty member of a public school and started out in special education. I left it to work with very small children still in the public school system and loved every minute of that also. There is no way to tell you which types of exceptionalities that you will work with, it depends on what school you work in and where you are needed most. Stay on the track you are on though..there are so many children out there that need a teacher with a big heart to work with them! GOOD LUCK!

on a more personal note…Bellarosa’s uncle should have been immediately arrested for threatening a teacher the way he did.

I am a special ed teacher. I enjoy it most of the time. The best point is to help students reach their potential.

However, you HAVE to see their potential. Reaching DOWN to a student does not help them. It keeps them where they may be. You have to be willing to be tough and not to feel sorry for your students. Coddling them does them no favors. I know. I also have a disability and received special education (Spina Bifida)

Go on with your choice. Anyway, its not the money you earn but its the dignity and self-fulfillment. When you do things in good faith, you will be happy and most of all its up there rewarding you. Remember, those who help others will get a reward from the DIVINE LORD.

to be honest therapist earn more than spec ed teachers. a spec ed teacher needs a master degree.

to learn more about things and jobs and pay go to www.dol.gov or www.doleta.gov has tons of info on those jobs and pay by state training etc.