Jobs With Disabled Children

Educational Aide

• Educational aides assist in classrooms with disabled children. Aides sometimes work one-on-one with children, helping with tasks such as writing, reading, using the restroom and ambulating. Some aides help in classrooms with a mixture of disabled and non-disabled students while other aides work in special education classrooms. The tasks of aides differ; they can range from watching students and making copies to planning lessons and teaching. Aides generally need a high school diploma or GED; there may be other requirements as specified by the school district.
  
  

Teacher

• A mainstream teacher works in a "regular" classroom where disabled students might be placed, whereas a special education teacher works with disabled children in different ways. A special education teacher may have a class of disabled students, pull disabled students out of the regular classroom for specific periods of time or have a mixed classroom like a mainstream teacher. There is also an increasing emphasis on co-teaching, where a special education teacher and a mainstream teacher instruct the same mixed class. Mainstream teachers need a teaching license but are not required to have a special education endorsement. Special education teachers need a teaching license with an endorsement in special education or a teaching degree in special education. Special education teachers may also teach at schools that are exclusively for disabled children.
  
  

Therapist

• Many disabled children receive services from a variety of therapists, including occupational, physical, speech, recreational, animal and art. Therapists often contract with an agency to provide services in schools or through home visits, but they may also practice independently. A therapy session usually lasts one to two hours, with the number of sessions per week or month depending on the child's needs, availability and other factors. Different employers require different levels of education, but a bachelor's or master's degree in the respective field of therapy is generally required for certification.
  
  

Hospital Volunteer

• Though volunteering with children at a hospital does not pay, the opportunity provides experience and contacts for future employment. Direct work with children includes hosting events, such as classes or parties, visiting children and reading to them. Indirect work includes office work, assisting with events and organizing. Some hospitals require a specific time commitment, such as six months, to volunteer. Major cities have hospitals that are exclusively for children; but if you do not live near one, most hospitals have children's floors or departments. Contact the volunteer or children's department of the hospital to find out about local opportunities. Requirements for volunteering will vary by hospital.