Working with young children that are disabled/have learning difficulties?

Question

When I leave school I would really like to work with young children who need specialist care due a condition/disability they have. Does anyone have any ideas of what qualifications I should try and achieve, and what type of career I could go into?

I don't want to be an actual doctor/nurse.

Thanks in advance!! xx

Answer 1

Hmm... well this is something which i am also very intrested in and I have a disability myself.

The types of carer you could go into are:

Working at a special school, working at a playgroup for people with disabilities, working as respite carer and many more.

I think volunteering would be the best qualification you can have as not only do you gain the experience but you also get to know if you would actually enjoy going into this as a career. Also doing a course in child development would help.

I wish you all the best

Benedict

Answer 2

Although it usually doesn't pay well, you could start by working as a para-educator in a public school...you would be working with the special-ed department...they generally have a lot of training sessions that will add to your store of knowledge and skills.  You would probably be placed in a regular classroom working as a one-on-one assistant to a special needs child.  There are a lot of opportunities available in that setting.  It might even lead you back to school for a degree in special-ed.  There is a huge need out there.

I hope you find what you are looking for...Bless you for wanting to do this...it's a tough line of work, but one of the most rewarding.

By the way...I am a special-ed teacher in an alternative-placement school and I've never regretted a moment of it.

Answer 3

A special education teacher would be a good choice.  However, you could, also, look into occupational therapy, physical therapy, or adaptive phys. ed.  These fields are nice because you are able to work with children that have different special needs.  It is very rewarding.

Answer 4

First of all thank you for choose this profession, it is not an easy one.  I truly admire you!

I don't know what qualifications are required, but would like to add that each child is different and you must learn what each child disability is so that you can learn the child.  He or she can have attitude changes, they can and will become violent, you need to know how to speak to each child, they are very sensitive and raising your voice  can make them upset.

Again thank you for thinking of this profession, my child has learning disabilities and become very frustrated and will act out if he can answer or feels threaten.

Answer 5

I would say be a SPED teacher or a speech-language pathologist.

Answer 6

As you can see, most of the advice is for you to get a special education teaching credential. That is probably the best way to go unless you don't want to teach.

However, there are also careers in social work that also provide opportunities to work with special needs populations. The employers include:

    *  Advocacy organizations

    * Development corporations

    * Community action agencies

    * Neighborhood and community centers

    * Local, state, and federal governments

    * Settlement houses

    * Associations

Another up and coming field is Behavior Analysis. This field pays more than either social work or teaching and offers a huge variety of jobs from working in schools, working with autism clients, working in group homes and anything else you can imagine. South Florida University, North Texas University and Florida Institute of Technology offer this major, to name a few.

There are a couple of other great fields also and that are in great demand such as:

Speech/Language Pathologist

Occupational Therapist

Physical Therapist

Mobility Specialist

Hope this give you a start!