About Special Needs Teaching Careers

Special education is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding careers that a teacher can pursue. Special education teachers work with children from preschool age to high school age, with a range of abilities and skills. Special education teachers are responsible for designing their student's curriculum, complete progress notes and discuss plans with their student's families.

Early Intervention Teacher

Early intervention teachers work with preschool-aged children (three to five years old). Children enrolled in early intervention programs have typically been diagnosed with a developmental delay or disability. Common early intervention reasons include autism, cerebral palsy to sensory disorders. Teachers working with these children prepare their students for entry into kindergarten. They work to teach their students numbers, letters, shapes, colors, counting and rhyming.

Inclusion Teacher

An inclusion teacher helps children with both mild and moderate disabilities learn in a traditional classroom. The inclusion students usually spend most of their day in a traditional classroom, but may be pulled out to go to the resource room for some subjects in which they need more help. Inclusion teachers modify assignments and change lesson plans to include the students as much as possible.

Special Education Teacher

Special education teachers teach at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Students with severe mental disabilities (like autism and mental retardation) are placed in a special education classroom. Teachers in these classrooms work with students according to their functioning level, use teaching aids and adaptive equipment as needed. Children in these classrooms may need assistance with eating, toileting, mobility and mastering basic life skills.