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

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I want to help mentally handicapped people and the only job I can think of is special ed teacher.I had my mind set on that for a while then when I told my Dad today what I wanted to be when I gew up he said that it was really hard becoming a special ed teacher.He did sya when I'm 17 (that's 2 years from now) I could go be a counsilor at a camp for mentally hanicapped people.I've got a few questions.

1.What's all the classes you have to take to become a speicial ed teacher?

2.What are the best types of colleges to go to?

or answer this:

3.What other kinds of jobs invloves helping mentally hanicapped people or people?

SpaceCase

You could start volunteering with non-profit organizations that work with special ed kids. They would also know of colleges and other careers that fall in the field.

Most special ed classes have kids that have some degree of learning disability, but are otherwise normal intelligence. A mental handicap generally refers to a debilitatingly low IQ or debilitatingly poor mental development in other areas. There is a need for people who see potential in these two groups of people and are willing to make the effort required to give them a fighting chance at the same opportunities as everyone else.


Social workers
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Speech therapists
Behavior therapists
Crisis councellors
Psychiatric Nurses

just a quick point - it tends to be called "disability" rather than "handicap" these days.

and good luck, spacecase - it's a difficult job, and people like you are needed desperately.

some of my teachers used to be special ed teachers. they told me that they majored in the subject they wanted to teach in and then got a masters degree in special education. i know that there are bachelors degrees in special education at some colleges also, but I'm not sure how common that is.

You could get a job as staff at a supported living agency.

That doesn't seem to require much background. Or ethics. Or anything else. As far as I can tell. (Although I'm only suggesting this if you're really capable of not getting utterly corrupted by that field or any of the other ones listed, because too many people in the field develop a condescending attitude and end up taking feeding their ego as more important than truly assisting anyone.)

Good special ed teachers are extemely hard to find. Alot of times they just give the children something to keep them quiet. I love the ones who challenge their students to do their very best, even if it means they may get a conflict, and yet understand them or do their best to, and work with them, never giving up on them.

Well..actually the reason why I said "mentally handicapped" was because I was scared to use the word "ret*d".I hate that word,I think it's ugly.

SpaceCase

You don't have to be 17 to volunteer as a teacher's aide, tutor, assistant, etc. for special ed students. Usually they're happy to take all the help they can get.

I did not know that...

SpaceCase

My wife is a special ed teacher. It is a 4 year degree and then you can get certified. However in my wife's case she majored in psychology as an undergraduate, and then got her master's degree in special education. If you have the motivation to help othrs I say go for it, don't let your dad scare you off.

As for other jobs, you can work with special needs individuals with a degree in social work, psychology, or sociology.

If you are looking for volunteer oppurtunities I suggest that you contact your local ARC chapter. (if you are in the US that is.)

I don't think society has created a wider variety of slurs in the English language for any group other than those with developmental disabilities. I could make you a list of them for you or you can take my word for it, but "ret*d" is relatively nice and is well understood. Anyway, what type of vision do you have for helping them?


(I'm sure a couple people will have a field day twisting this post to fit their own vandetta)

Casey, I think you would make a great special ed teacher. There is a school that is about three hours away from me that is perfect for people who want to be teachers.

Went and saw my counselor today.I asked her about special Ed teaching and she told me all about it and what other stuff you could do to help with coughretardedcough children.I think I can do it.

SpaceCase

You can say mentally retarted or mentally challenged. For emotionally disturbed....emotionally challenged is more politically correct.

Alright, since political correctness is being such a big hangup in this discussion, let me explain something: "ret*d" really is a nice name for the condition. There are more slurs against people with various mental disabilities than slurs for Asians, who seem to have the second most slurs attruibuted to them. While it is possible to call the ret*d "ret*ds", " 'tards", "tardmonkeys", "idiots", "morons", "imbiciles", "mongoloids", or "waterheads", the word "ret*d" is reasonably nice and straightforward compared to most terms society has been known to use.