1). A title and description of the profession
Special education teaching refers to a specialized kind of teaching where one specializes in working with handicapped students (Wynne 5). The students in this kind of teaching are equipped with basic knowledge of life and life skills necessary for the comfortable existence of the impaired students. The basic skills include things such communication and literacy. Not necessarily should the students in this program be physically disabled, but it also involves dealing with students with emotional challenges in life.
Several organizations offer this type of education all over the world. The initiation of such schools and institutions can be government owned or private sectors that are non-profit oriented. These organizations recruit specialized teachers and volunteers in offering the services to the impaired students. One of the examples of such an organization is the American Council of the Blind. It is an organization that in non-profit oriented and offers services through branches available throughout America for the blind people. The organization has facilities and required personnel to equip the visually impaired with the necessary survival skills. The other example is National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation research. This organization in non-profit oriented and offers further services by facilitating research regarding ways and techniques of teaching the physically and mentally challenged individuals (Educational Research Council 18).
ii. Why did you choose this profession for your portfolio? Describe. What it is that attracts you to this field? Be specific about your interests, goals, and the profession’s fit into immediate, short-term and long-term goals
The desire to help and offer special services to the community is a major motivation towards the choice of this area of specialization. The care and survival of the physically and mentally impaired individuals around the world is becoming of great concern. The victims to this circumstance face discrimination and segregation in the society due to their inability to be of help. Moreover, these individuals require specialized treatment and care which is hardly found from the members of the society.
My main attraction to this field is the satisfaction that comes with proving the point that disability is not inability. The disabled have so much potential that needs help and motivation to be exploited. My main goal in this agenda is to pass a message through actions to the members of the society who have stereotype against the disabled. The message is that disability is not inability, and one can live a healthy and comfortable life within the society despite the physical and mental challenges.
My interests is to in this field is to focus on this minor group people with little bit of abnormalities and enable the disabled to coexist and integrate with the members of the society through communicating and learning survival skills. My short-term goal includes offering services in one the organizations to help me gather experience and techniques to overcome the various challenges in this field of specialization. Long-term goals involve the encouragement of public participation processes through public awareness on the need to care and love the disabled living within us. In addition, long-term goal includes the need to carry out more research on better ways to educate and teach them the necessary skills.
iii. Research at least two notable practitioners in this field. What are their significant contributions and why?
There are known practitioners in this field of offering special education teaching to the needy students. One of the known practitioners is Karl Schoenherr who was the Dorothy R. Moog Special Education Teacher of the Year. The award was presented after careful analysis of the services offered by a person. Organization, leadership, and sensitivity are the key factors observed by Schoenherr in the delivery of services (Educational Research Council 28). The services are exceptional as the person treats the disabled as family and gives the best when it comes to offering any assistance to the physically and mentally challenged.
The other known teacher is Susan Lee Barker. Other members of the society know her for her contribution in the push for enacting laws and regulations regarding the segregation and treatment of the disabled individuals. In addition, Barker is known for understanding nature, patience, and loving virtues she uses to overcome the challenges involved in the field of teaching the disabled individuals. The fight against retaliation of the disabled kids was fruitful I 2009 where laws and regulations were formulated to protect these kids (Teacher Education and Special Education 27).
Qualifications and certifications necessary for this position
The employment of a teacher in a public school has some requirement that has to be met. The person should have a bachelor's degree from known institution such as Yokohama National University, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts University of Science and Technology. The institution must be recognized and have qualified staff for the proper training of the teachers. After acquisition of a degree, one must seek for certificate of operation. The certificate is got for the Board of Education after a review of the degree and the institution. Experience is a requirement in majority of the institutions seeking to employ a special need teacher (McGibbon, Chris and Krebs 19).
2. List some educational institutions or professional schools that provide instruction toward these advanced degrees or certifications
Several institutions around the world offer special education teaching education. America has several of these institutions. They include:
- Massachusetts University of science and Technology
ii. How long will it take to obtain the necessary certifications or qualifications for this position? Describe the course of study and list the specific skills learned or knowledge gained in each program.
The degree program, which is the minimum requirement by the state for the issue of a certificate, takes four years in college after successful completion of high school curricular. One has to be fluent in spoken and written English for easy communication to the people. Several things are taught during the cause that first involves learning the various types of disabilities and actual presentation of information for efficient communication (McGibbon, Chris and Krebs 24). Other things include:
- Health and well being of the kids by learning things such as first aid provision- this is necessary for the care in case of accidents and also for teaching the individual tactics to care for each other.
- Nutritional requirement- for proper development on learns the nutritional requirement of the body of individuals facing various challenges. It can be physical or mental challenge
- Emotional stability- treatment and handling of individuals with emotional problems needs good communication skills, understanding and high level of tolerance-Individuals undertaking the course are taught how to provide emotional support.
- Optimal teaching
- Prevention of addiction to those who are emotionally challenged
Minor details of those categories lead to the small units that are meant to make one an expert in this area of specialization.
iii. Identify any required state or private certifications (e.g., first aid, mandated reporter, teacher certification, etc.)
The state provides certification for one to be able to work in the public sector in providing specialized care and educational services to the handicapped. Several conditions have to be met for one to be certified by the state. The requirement for certification of an individual varies from one state to the other with some common requirements between the states. The basic requirement for certification in any state is the bachelor's degree in offering specialized education services from a recognized institution (McGibbon, Chris and Krebs 15). Teaching practice or rather a preparation program is required with the confirmation of the undertaking and performance by the supervisor.
Current opportunities
Several job opportunities can be found through advertisement on the internet. It is clear that there is a deficiency of teachers and personnel. Examples of available job opportunities include:
Job at Bright Horizons Children's Centers - Elmhurst, NY
Qualification of the job requires one to have certification from the recognized authorities and a minimum of 7 years’ experience in Early Childhood Education. In addition, it is required one to have good leadership qualities and good communication skills.
The salary is stated at $44500 per, and it comes with other benefits on confirmation of competency and commitment.
Special Education teacher needed in Children Therapy Network Company- Job Number 216395038
Requirement includes; certification by the Ney York state Teacher Certification Area and experienced with children above the age of five. Salary is quoted at $47000 per year with other benefits.
3. The outlook for this profession
ii. Describe how each of these positions are useful for experience and credential building as well as how each fit into your immediate, short-term and long-term goals.
The preceded jobs give one an opportunity to provide specialized service to the community that is an achievement of a short-term goal. The opportunity granted to work in a well-recognized institution is an opportunity to create public awareness in the community towards better treatment towards the handicapped kids. The opportunity granted to work with others is a golden chance worth grabbing for one has an opportunity to learn from experienced experts. The initiation towards more research on better ways to communicate and educate the handicapped can be derived from cognitive technique of research in such an institution.
Literature
Also known as, ableism, discrimination against the disabled was a common phenomenon until the late 20th century and the early 21st century. Many countries have adopted laws and regulations governing the discrimination against the handicapped. Several reasons lead to this as research by Johnson indicates. One of the main reasons for discrimination is the societal forces and shame of family members towards having one of them disabled. Other members of the community do not involve with such members and treat them as outcast members of the community. Despite the rules and regulations, some communities still have stereotypic eye towards the disabled and seclude them from the daily activities that make life fun (McGibbon, Chris and Krebs 21).
The concept of discrimination is further seen in the analysis of this aspect in the African society. A family having a disabled member is regarded as cursed and is secluded from some of the activities of the society (Sunday school Board of the Southern Baptist Convention 9). Lack of knowledge contributes to such scenarios in the African society. In addition, in Africa individuals do not consider the special need education as the main thin and therefore minimal specialized care is given to the disabled making their conditions worse.
Conclusion
Works Cited
McGibbon, Chris A., and David E. Krebs. "Discriminating age and disability effects in locomotion: neuromuscular adaptations in musculoskeletal pathology." Journal of Applied Physiology (2003): n. pag. Print.
Special Education Teacher. Cleveland, Ohio: Educational Research Council, 2011. Print.
Special Education, Teacher. Nashville, TN: Sunday school Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 2010. Print.
Wynne, Sharon A. Special Education: Teaching Students with Behavioral Disorders/emotional Disturbances : Teacher Certification Exam. Boston: XAMonline, 2014. Internet resource.
