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natalie
Student
Grafton, Ohio
3
Questions
Asked
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are there any advancements available for special education careeres?
i want to get involed in assisting special needs patients but i want to know how far this will take me or if there are advancements i can make #education #specialneeds #assisting
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2 answers
Joy Murray
Special Education Teacher
3
Answers
Greenville, South Carolina
Updated
Joy’s Answer
Hello,
There are so many paths you can take in Special Education. It is a very vast field in which you can offer support. If you are relatively new to the field and you want to find your niche within one thing I would recommend is being a part of the special education scene. When I first started out I was a special education aide and that allowed me to see all the possibilities like doing OT, Speech, Music therapy, Special Education teacher, Behavioral Interventionist, ABA Therapist. There are just so many directions that you can go. I loved working with them so much but what spoke to me the most was supporting them in the classroom because I saw how they could advance when someone just took the time to believe in them. This led me to start doing home services with them to support them in making progress in their home environment as well. And from there I went on to become a special education teacher in a charter school. I would love to eventually work in self contained -but there are various roles you can take. I knew people who went on from being educators to special education administrators so they could support other people in making a difference in the classroom and school environment. It just depends on where you feel you could make the most impact. It’s rewarding as a whole. I would recommend even checking out programs like Teach For America where you could have a paid experience in the field and the ability to have support in paying for furthing your education into whatever sector of special education you would like to go into after you see what you are interested in. They will set you up with the right network to get you where you need to be. Then there are also so many outside forces as well psychologist, ABA providers in the community, people hold space for those with special needs in so many different ways and I think its about finding your passion and using that to support people with special needs -whether that be speech, or ABA, or music, or whatever.
There are so many paths you can take in Special Education. It is a very vast field in which you can offer support. If you are relatively new to the field and you want to find your niche within one thing I would recommend is being a part of the special education scene. When I first started out I was a special education aide and that allowed me to see all the possibilities like doing OT, Speech, Music therapy, Special Education teacher, Behavioral Interventionist, ABA Therapist. There are just so many directions that you can go. I loved working with them so much but what spoke to me the most was supporting them in the classroom because I saw how they could advance when someone just took the time to believe in them. This led me to start doing home services with them to support them in making progress in their home environment as well. And from there I went on to become a special education teacher in a charter school. I would love to eventually work in self contained -but there are various roles you can take. I knew people who went on from being educators to special education administrators so they could support other people in making a difference in the classroom and school environment. It just depends on where you feel you could make the most impact. It’s rewarding as a whole. I would recommend even checking out programs like Teach For America where you could have a paid experience in the field and the ability to have support in paying for furthing your education into whatever sector of special education you would like to go into after you see what you are interested in. They will set you up with the right network to get you where you need to be. Then there are also so many outside forces as well psychologist, ABA providers in the community, people hold space for those with special needs in so many different ways and I think its about finding your passion and using that to support people with special needs -whether that be speech, or ABA, or music, or whatever.
Nicole Kirksey
Editor
19
Answers
Muskegon, Michigan
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
There certainly are opportunities for advancement within the special education field. As you may already know there are entry level positions often with the title of Special Education paraprofessional or classroom aide. These positions can sometimes require a set number of college credits and in some school districts require very little to no college credits or training to be hired into these positions. There are also special education teachers which require a Bachelors degree in most school districts, yet if there is a high need in the field, school districts can request an emergency certification for you to be a special education teacher. High need meaning they have positions that they cannot find qualified candidates to fill meaning candidates that have the degree/credentials or experience they are looking for. There are also special education administrators. Special education administrators typically hold a Masters degree in the education field and in administration. There can be Special Education Supervisors and Directors. The Supervisors will often work directly with teachers and parents within their school district who have students receiving special education services. The Directors will oversee the Supervisors and the special education programming for a school district or in some cases multiple school districts. Each of the levels listed here are usually within a school district, yet you can also move into a position with your Local Education Agency (LEA) or Intermediate School District (ISD). LEAs and ISDs also often have Special Education Consultant roles, Supervisor roles, and a Director role. Their Consultants may focus on specific areas like Autism Spectrum Disorders, Behavior, Assistive Technology, etc. There are also very similar positions that are offered at the state level working for your State's Department of Education.
Also, remember at the Paraprofessional and Teacher level there are many different areas you could focus on, working with students who have emotional, behavioral, or cognitive impairments. You could focus on working with kids who have not yet entered school, elementary, middle school, high school, or even college students (not called special education at the college level).
Another thing to keep in mind is there are many careers that work cooperatively with Special Education that you could consider as well such as physical therapist, social work, occupational therapist, speech therapist, etc.
Also, remember at the Paraprofessional and Teacher level there are many different areas you could focus on, working with students who have emotional, behavioral, or cognitive impairments. You could focus on working with kids who have not yet entered school, elementary, middle school, high school, or even college students (not called special education at the college level).
Another thing to keep in mind is there are many careers that work cooperatively with Special Education that you could consider as well such as physical therapist, social work, occupational therapist, speech therapist, etc.