Special Education Assistant

It’s not just politically correct: Special needs students really do have special needs. And one of them happens to be a Special Education Teacher.

When you’re a Special Education Assistant, it’s your job to assist that Teacher in the education of physically and mentally disabled students. You may work as a Special Education Assistant in public schools or private schools. You may work in schools that teach all students, or in those that specialize in special-needs education. You may work at elementary schools, middle schools or high schools. Always, however, it’s your job to help Teachers manage their classrooms, and to help students manage their disabilities — which can include emotional and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays, social disorders, communication impediments and physical handicaps.

Because of the unique challenges they face, special-needs students typically require smaller class sizes, custom-made curriculums and more one-on-one instruction. Because your presence allows more students to receive more personal attention, you make all of that possible.

After all: Special Education Teachers only have two hands; Special Education Assistants give them two more. While the Teacher is working with one student, therefore, you can work with another. When they need it, you also can help students with physical needs, such as grooming, hygiene, movement and eating, allowing the Teacher to focus squarely on teaching.

In many schools, special-needs students are integrated as much as possible with their peers. In such settings, your job often is attending to a single student in an otherwise typical classroom, supervising, protecting and even befriending them — in the hallways, in the cafeteria and on the playground.