What are careers in special education?

Special education teachers, education coordinators, and reading specialists are careers in special education. Here are the details of these careers and others in special education:

• Special education teacher

  A special education teacher is an education professional who primarily works with students who have mental, physical, or emotional disabilities. They also work with students who have specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia.

  Special education teachers develop lesson plans that fit the learning capacity of their students. They may adapt pre-existing lesson plans or craft their own. They also develop and update a special education student's Individualized Education Program(IEP). This program is formed with the collaboration of parents, case managers, and school administrators.

  They work with students in a one-on-one setting and also in groups as a whole. They are employed by all kinds of schools, both private and public, from preschool through college.

  All special education teachers must obtain at least a master's degree in education, and most have a focus on special education.

  The average salary of a special education teacher in the United States is $45,101 per year. However, some can earn up to $103,000 per year.

• Education coordinator

  Education coordinators develop, advise, and evaluate special education programs. This includes school curriculum and sometimes corporate training. They often act as recruiters, seeking out the most qualified special education teachers for specific posts.

  In addition, they write grants related to developing programs. Education coordinators can work in every type of school setting, as well as in other industries, like information technology and healthcare.

  Most have a master's degree or higher in education or education administration.

  The average salary of an education coordinator in the United States is $48,450 per year.

• Reading specialist

  Reading specialists work with small groups of students or individual students to enhance their reading abilities. They also inform teachers, parents, students, and other school officials about specific reading challenges and the techniques that can be employed to overcome them.

  They also test students to determine what level they are reading at and what types of strategies and programs may be helpful for them. They often give tests to students who are being considered for special education.

  Reading specialists generally have a master's degree in reading and comprehension, education, or another related area.

  The average salary of a reading specialist in the United States is $49,600 per year.

• Writer

  Writers work in many different areas of special education. They may write textbooks that are utilized in special education, brochures relevant to the topic, children's books, or television programming geared towards children and special needs children.

  Writers often work closely with other creative professionals, such as editors, publishers, illustrators, visual artists, puppeteers, and others.

  Special education experts can also use their training to write textbooks or fictional books for children with special needs. They might also contribute research findings to an educational journal.

  Writers in the special needs industry often have at least a bachelor's degree in English, creative writing, education, or another relevant area. Many also have advanced degrees in these fields.

  The average salary of a writer in the United States is $49,603 per year.

• Special education counselor

  Special education counselors are counselors in schools that help students that have mental, physical, emotional, or learning disabilities. They often help students with the difficulties they encounter in school and at home.

  Sometimes they test children to determine if they are in need of special education. They also may decide whether or not a specific student receives more individual instruction in a class and may work with them in helping to achieve academic goals.

  Special education counselors work with individual students and groups of special needs students.

  Most special education counselors have at least a master's degree in psychology, special education, or another related field.

  The average salary of a special education counselor in the United States is $51,835 per year.