I am looking for a career that allows me to work with children with autism.?

Question

My neice was diagnosed with autism and she has improed greatly in many aspects due to her teachers. I am in my firt year of college and was hoping to find a job that allows me to also help children. Right now I am a Social Work major, which will allow me to help abused children. I thought about becoming a Speech Language Pathology major but I found the class I went into was very boring and I do not think I should enter a career I will eventually despise.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I would like a job that allows me to work with special needs, specifically Autistic Children (although not being able to work specifically with Autistic children would be fine). Some people have told me elementary school teacher specializing in special needs, but I do not know if I would enjoy this career. Anyone have any suggestions or first hand experience?

Answer 1

ESE teacher (be the next clay aiken!!!)

Answer 2

you could be one of those special ed teachers (who actually care).

Answer 3

Autism is a language-based disorder. If you found the SLP class boring, you will most likely not like studying for any of the other careers that are related. Working with children diagnosed with autism requires indepth knowledge of various pervasive developmental disorders, their diagnosis, and treatment. You must be flexible and able to work as part of a team. You must be patient and learn to celebrate small successes which take many smaller steps to obtain and a long time to accomplish. You will have to keep detailed data--lesson plans, accommodations, daily logs on goals and behaviors, etc. if you work with these students.

You might think about continuing with Social Work. Our SW works with a variety of children, including some with autism, but doesn't have to have IEP goals for each one. She has much less paperwork than an SLP and the special ed teachers and can focus more of her time on working directly with the children and their families. Most of her time is spent with children in our early childhood at-risk program and an EC classroom of special needs children.

Answer 4

Social work would allow you to do more than work with abused kids.  In reference to working with autism.  Most schools have school social workers that and a major part of their job is to work with children with learning and emotional/behavioral issues (special education).  All kids have to have an IEP and social workers are always a part of these plans.

The only more direct work would be special education, physical, speech, occupational and related therapies all of which might be employed with autistic youth.

DA

Answer 5

I think the best job working with autistic children and others with special needs is the OT job! It is occupational therapist and the person who helps the most!  The autistic children at our school enjoy this part of their school day the most! Using the PEC therapy and other therapies, the OT helps the student, usually in a one on one session.

Answer 6

if you want to work with autism spectrum disorders then jobs such as: FMD teacher, early childhood special ed teacher, autism specialist, learning and behavior disorder teacher (usually in a resource room), occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech and language therapist, child clinical psychology, child developmental specialist, case worker in a group home for ASD, social worker, adaptive PE teacher, assistive technologist consultant, istructional assistant, pediatrician/ped nurse practioner, nurse to name a few.

Go online and look up what are the requirements, educationa, licensure/certification, detail job duties, etc.

Maybe you can email or try and intervew some professionals and see what really sparks your interest.

There is no ONE perfect career for working w./ ASD, but rather to find the one perfect career for you.. The ones who says the "perfect" job is this, then they are most likely saying that because that is what they are.

Answer 7

Look into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) if you want to specifically work with children with Autism.  This route would usually include getting a degree in psychology with a focus on childhood disabilities specifically developmental disabilities.  You could then take masters classes in ABA and sit for the exam to become certified.  This would enable you to do many things outside of the classroom.  You could do in-home work, consultation services with families and schools, work in centers or specialized schools or get your teaching certification and work in public schools as well.

Answer 8

There are a number of jobs, which are beneficial to children especially with children with learning and or conditions falling into the Autistic spectrum.

Teachers Aides

Cognitive Behavioural therapy

Multi Sensory therapy

Occupational therapy

Physio therapist or physical therapy

Speech & or language therapy

Music therapy

Disability support worker