Can't decide between a Special-Ed teacher or a...?

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I've been thinking alot about applying my computer knowledge to a mental health reated career lately. Both on WP and the internet as a whole, I have seen so much intelligence and creativity wasted in hospitals and mental helth beaureaucracies around the world. Society really is missing out on alot from people who's existence is rarely ever acknowledged except for political gain/exploitation. There has got to be a better way to help people function at their full potential by emphisizing their talents, the things that are right about them, and their fundamental human drives; not treating them like a pile of disorders to be managed all their life.

no-one is about to die from shock at what i'm going to say, i'm sure...

"ret*d" is not used anymore. think about how many people here hate being called ret*d. the same goes for others. if you want to be completely "politically correct" (gods, i hate that expression), it's "people with mental disability".

and sean, it's "vEndetta"

if you train as a teacher, space case, you can specialise later.

Last edited by vetivert on 07 Dec 2005, 3:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

I saw a documentary on mentally retarted people. they didn't mind being called mentally retarted, but hated the term retarted, because now a days it's used in a degrading way. I think that goes with the term..colored people, that use to be an ok term to use, but not anymore, at least not in California. I think it just depends on your area?

In my neighborhod, "colored people" would be alot nicer of a term than what's normally used. I guess what terms are not condescending varies by region.

You could ask your school's special ed. teacher and ask if you could help them in the classroom (I forget what the technical term is; it could be called 'student assistant' or something) then you could have experience, and put that on your record that you helped in a special ed. classroom on a college application. I would also think that taking a psychology-related class would be necessary in going to college for that major. Otherwise, I don't know the exact classes you need to take in order to become a special ed. teacher. Anyways, hope this helps.

*wants to hug Casey* The world needs more special ed teachers and assistants, especially those who actually desire to help the kids. What part of special ed are you considering? Or am I asking questions too early in advance?

Special education has always been something interesting. One of the advantages for an aspie would probably be that teaching special education would mean less people in the classroom, more like working with one or a small group of students at a time, rather than 30 kids.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted!

I'm learning American Sign Language so I can help out with deaf and possibly deaf-blind kids.^_^

-SpaceCase

You could get a job as a teachers assistant. This is just as hard as being a special ed teacher and would give you an insight into the job before committing yourself to years of study. You can even do it part time. I had a friend who did this for a few years and then went to university to become a fully qualified teacher.

Great advice WooYay

Many people who want to become teachers work as Assistants while going to school.
Being an assistant provides critical experience while building necessary connections.

I know I probably would've had a special ed teacher had I ever been tested for LDs.
If you plan on staying in the region you live in now, French would probably be worth learning. Maybe Spanish too. I've always considered being a musical teacher, but I can't stand repeating myself. Hmm...have you asked your counselor about how much they get payed yet?

I never cared about how much I got payed...I just want to help these children out.But,no,I havn't asked her,but next time I see her I will.

-SpaceCase

hi. I'm new around here and I thought I'd add my bit. I am a special ed teacher right now and have a severely impaired special day class. I started working with special needs kids by getting trained as an autism intervention tutor and working out of people's homes. I also worked for ARC ( it used to be called association for ret*d citizens, but well, folks decided it didn't sound good) anyhow, through ARC I worked as a job coach, but they had a lot of different kinds of jobs from job coach to life skills coach, to teacher etc..
anyhow, in the schools I worked as an assistant first and then slowly decided to become a lead teacher. I am getting my master's while I have my own classroom because I already have a BA and an MA. If you know you like this kind of work, your students really benefit, make sure you really like it before you jump in with both feet!

My mom has a doctorate in English and she is partially disabled (she is in a wheelchair from a car accident) She had an amazing experience being a tutor for disabled students in college. Disabled students offers help for students of all disabilities. (from blindness to mental retardation) She said that it put her issues into perspective for one, and also that it made her feel better being able to help people who were in the situation she had been in right after her car accident. You might want to look into it. I think you might find it to be something empowering.

After a rough start, I'm back to smiling after spending my days assiting students with autism / other non verbal learning disabilites, and the adults who help them.
That I get paid to do this is a side bonus.
Definately worth becoming a TA after High School if you are interested in becoming a Special Ed. Teacher.