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Special Education Teacher - Tasks and specialisations

Special education teachers may do all or some of the following:

evaluate and assess students' needs
consult with schools, parents, whānau, caregivers, Ministry of Education staff and medical professionals about students' needs
plan lessons and activities based on their students' and curriculum needs
put into place individual education plans (IEPs) for students
adapt teaching methods to meet the needs of students
find, provide and adapt resources to meet the special needs of students
teach students new skills, and build on existing skills
help students to address and cope with their disabilities or difficulties
write reports on students
help parents and teachers to decide whether a student should be transferred to another school
refer students to other support agencies
organise timetables for students' support staff
help secondary school students in their transition from school to the workplace or further education.

Special education teachers use a variety of teaching aids in their work

Jan Miller teaching a student who has a hearing impairment

Special education teachers may specialise in a particular area such as:

Early Intervention Teacher: Early intervention teachers work with preschool children who have special needs.
Resource Teacher (Learning and Behaviour): Resource teachers (learning and behaviour) work with primary and secondary students with moderate learning and behaviour difficulties.
Resource Teacher of the Deaf: Teachers of the deaf work with primary and secondary students with hearing impairments.
Resource Teacher (Vision): Resource teachers (vision) work with primary and secondary students who have visual impairments.
Specialist Teacher: Specialist teachers work with primary and secondary students who have high educational needs because of physical, intellectual or communication impairments.

Updated September 2009