|  | Family Health | Childrens Health

Daily Responsibilities of Special Education Teachers

Special education (SE) teachers help children and young people suffering from a range of physical and mental disabilities. Most SE teachers work in preschools, elementary and secondary schools, but some are employed to help toddlers and infants. All 50 states in America require SE teachers to be licensed before they can work with children. The average salary of an SE teacher as of May 2009 was $52,900, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  1. Disability Types

    • Mental disabilities encountered by SE teachers include mental retardation, autism and developmental issues cause by traumatic brain injuries. They deal with children suffering from physical disabilities, including hearing and language difficulties, orthopedic problems, and blindness. A key part of the SE job role is identifying the specific nature of a child's disability. Outlining the nature of a child's problems allows an SE teacher to intervene and formulate an education program tailored to the child's needs.

    Methods

    • SE teachers use a range of methods to assist children with learning difficulties including individual-focused intuition, group activities, and problem-based assignments. SE teachers also make sure accommodations are made for children to work within a school curriculum or to complete mandatory tests or exams. Typical allowances made include having questions read orally rather than read from a document and allowing extended time periods to complete a specific test. Technology plays a crucial role in the education of children with special needs, with cutting edge computers that employ synthesized speech, audiotapes and interactive learning software tailored to overcome a range of learning difficulties

    IEPs

    • Individualized education programs (IEPs) are developed by SE teachers to set individual goals for specific students, which are tailored to play to their strengths and bypass weaknesses. An IEP program often involves formulating and achieving tailored goals to prepare children for attending middle or high school. With older children, SE teachers help build skill sets to prepare them for higher education or entering the workplace. SE teachers usually work closely with school administrators and children's parents to update them on IEP progress and to recommend any changes to current regimens.

    Work Locations

    • Some SE teachers host their own classes which are attended solely by children with special needs. Others work with students in general education schools, where they offer individual support to children with learning difficulties to help them work through the school curriculum. SE teachers also work in residential homes to help parents prepare infants and toddlers to enter the education system. A minority of SE teachers work with children who are unable to leave their house due to severe mental or physical disabilities or those in long-term hospital care.

Childrens Health - Related Articles