Special Education

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I am planning to go for a degree in special education
so that at some point of time i can teach special children
dyslexia, autistic, mentally ret*d
I guess a B.Ed in special education is needed
i wont mind doing short term courses.
I have to research about occupational therapies.
Is anyone else working in such jobs
teaching special kids
Does it work out or are there problems ultimately

I'm a special needs teacher. It's going okay so far.

I teach at a special ed school. Looking back, it's a really good thing I've done this because it helped me to learn about autism and recognise some of my own behaviours - up to the point where I'm now in the process of diagnosis. Much of the time, I like working with the kids. But, at the moment, I'm only doing day to day substitute teaching at one school. Last year, I did a 5 week full time teaching block and that nearly killed me. The constant interactions, even in the staff room, and the lack of free time did not agree with me. So, for me, if I could get regular substitute work at this school (2 days a week would be fine) as a long term thing, I'd be really happy. But that doesn't seem to be very likely for a long term thing. As I'm moving more into the inevitability of full time work, problems are emerging.

I'm considering it. I work in a school but in a play role rather than a teaching role. I'm planning on becoming a teaching assistant first. Then I can experience the job, without having to do a degree for something I may not want to continue.

I don't think it's ever smooth sailing. At our school, a teacher got kicked in the head and had to go to hospital, another TA a while back got her face bitten by a child. It can be risky and incredibly stressful, but it's so much fun sometimes and I think, definitely worth it.

If you're in the UK, there's lots of agencies who hire teachers for supply work. Maybe get some experience working/volunteering with children with learning disabilities first, if you haven't already?

Special Education is a very rewarding but very challenging field.

I have friends who work in special education. They have good days were the kids are attentive and fun to be around, and they have bad days where the kids fight, kick, spit, curse, punch, stab and one time brought a gun to school (apparently street gangs admit kids in special ed).

She also works with the profoundly special, so she has to change diapers and such.