79-Special needs teachers

Job Title: 

Special needs teachers

Job Description: 

Specialize and work with students with audible, visual, physical, emotional or behavioural difficulties, and/or intellectual disabilities related to learning, communication, academic and/ or life processes skills

Summary: 

Special needs teachers teach or assist in teaching students/children with hearing, vision, physical, emotional/behavioural or intellectual disabilities or those with learning difficulties or other special needs. They help schools and other teachers provide suitable learning programmes for these students as well as young persons and adults. They also promote the social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of their students.

Tasks: 

Job activities and tasks include:

  • assessing students? abilities and limitations with regard to intellectual, physical, social and emotional impairments, exceptional intellectual gifts, or other specific problems
  • designing or modifying curricula and preparing and delivering programmes, lessons and activities adapted to students? abilities and needs
  • giving instruction on an individual or group basis using special techniques or aids appropriate to students? needs
  • employing special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory
  • establishing and enforcing rules for behaviour and policies and procedures to maintain order among students
  • teaching academic subjects, and practical and self-help skills to students with hearing, sight and other impairments
  • stimulating and developing students? confidence interests, abilities, manual skills and coordination
  • undertake specific therapy tasks with individual students under the guidance of the teacher or nominated professional and assist, where required, with personal hygiene, toileting and feeding requirements per needs of individual students
  • conferring with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons for special needs students
  • preparing and maintaining student data and other records and submitting reports
  • administering various forms of assessment and evaluating progress of each student
  • conferring with students, parents, head teacher and other relevant professionals involved in the students? care to develop individual educational plans designed to promote students? development
Knowledge: 

Higher specialized knowledge of principles, concepts and techniques in field of work, discipline and/or professional practice

  • Advanced knowledge of analyzing, planning, managing and establishing ideas, policies, strategies, projections and/or conditions in the field of work, discipline and/or professional practice
  • Higher knowledge of research principles and methods
  • Higher knowledge of high level governance of systems, processes and procedures including legislative, regulatory, standards, codes and conventions
  • Broad knowledge of recent developments in the field of work, discipline and/or professional practice
  • Broad knowledge of principles, concepts and techniques in management, economics, finance, statistics and fiscal disciplines related to the field of work and/or professional practice
  • Broad knowledge of political, government, legislative and regulatory systems related to the field of work
  • Broad knowledge of laws, regulations, standards codes and conventions of the UAE and specific Emirates related to the field of work, discipline and/or professional practice and more general subjects including OHSE and cultural understanding and awareness
  • Broad knowledge of principles, concepts and techniques in sensitively managing complex ethical issues
  • Leverage information technology, management information systems, management techniques and tools for optimal field of work performance and/or professional practice
  • Skills in research, analysis, consultation and synthesis of information to evaluate ideas, policies, strategies, projections and/or conditions and produce recommendations and/ or relevant options
  • Manage higher level relationships and organize related activities of respective stakeholders
  • Higher skills and experience in broad based policy analysis, formulation and research, plus planning in sensitive and confidential environment
  • Develop concepts and convey strategic suggestions from the spectrum of development experience
  • Broad level negotiation cultural sensitivity and diplomatic skills
  • Use of information, tools, resources to support broad-level and complex work achievement
  • Work sensitively and effectively in a multi-cultural environment
  • Work with others to develop creative solutions to complex predictable and new contexts problems
  • Communicate with effect, and a proven record of developing and maintaining active partnerships across an organization and with diverse external clients and other key stakeholders
  • Highly developed higher oral and written communication, interpersonal and representational skills, and a proven ability to use these skills to prepare and present clear, concise, high quality advice
  • Highly developed leadership and effective management skills, with capacity to implement and sustain improvements within a team environment, as well as the ability to work flexibly and cooperatively as a member of a team
  • Personal drive and integrity, the ability to self-manage and the capacity to identify and effectively control risks associated with change, as well observe ethical standards related to complex ethical issues
  • Achieving results within tight timelines, and capacity to set and implement new policy directions
  • Highly developed broad organizational skills, including the ability to organize priorities and meet tight deadlines
    • Work Context: 

    Special education teachers usually work in early childhood education centres and in classrooms, offices and outside in school playgrounds. They may also be required to travel to visit students, health professionals and other agencies or may accompany students on field trips and community visits. They are often required to stand for long periods, or may work with students on the floor or at tables. Their work may be challenging and stressful at times, depending on the students they work with and may require the use of special equipment, instruments, tools and aids.

    Education: 

    Bachelor of Education or specific cycle/discipline, higher qualification or equivalent and in some instances may require a post graduate qualification in special needs education and/or other related speciality subject area.

    Required Work Experience: 

    5 years and above

    Probable Employers: 

    Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs, Al Amal Special Needs Centre, British Institute for Learning Development Abu Dhabi

    Occupational Size: 
    Less than 5,000
    Expected Earnings: 

    Above the industry average

    Projected Growth: 
    Very good
    Alternate Titles: 

    Examples of job titles:
    Learning disabilities special education teacher - Learning support teacher - Remedial teacher - Teacher of gifted children - Teacher of the hearing impaired - Teacher of the sight impaired
    Examples of some related occupations:
    Teacher?s aide - Early intervention teacher - Reading recovery (Remedial) teacher - Resource teacher (Learning and Behaviour) - Resource teacher (Vision) - Resource teacher of the Deaf - Teacher (Special Education) - Vocational education teacher - Secondary school teacher - Primary school teacher

    UAE Industry Groups: 
    Government, public administration and education services
    International Careers(ISCO): 
    Similar O*NET Careers (USA) : 
    Source Of Info: 
    Occupations and Careers Handbook for UAE Nationals(Copyright NQA ). Referenced from New York University, Abu Dhabhi