Those who work with children with special needs fill a need that 17% of children have, making them critical members of the workforce.1 These children may have challenges in physical language, learning or behavior areas. Professionals can work with them to overcome difficulties and impact their lifelong development.1, 2
Children with special needs and special needs children are phrases that mean the same thing: children who need additional support because of physical, developmental or cognitive challenges. However, the former phrase emphasizes the child first, leading to a more person-centered approach.3
Those who wish to work with children with special needs can take on many roles, from educator to therapist. They all serve a singular purpose: to help children who move, grow or think differently achieve their goals and dreams.4, 5
Why Work with Children with Special Needs?
Child development is a field focused on the physical, emotional and mental advancement of children from newborn to adult.6 This can include standard development, such as preschool teaching, but may also focus on helping children who are behind their peers in terms of reaching developmental milestones. In this way, careers where people can work with children with special needs become critical.
There are many focus areas within child development careers, such as early childhood education, child psychology and social work. There are several avenues through which someone can help children with special needs.4, 5, 7 There is also immense variability in work environments, from schools to hospitals to in-home care.
Working with children with special needs offers an opportunity to help them reach their full potential and create a lasting impact by supporting their developmental trajectory.3 Estimates show that around 17% of children between the ages of 3 and 17 have one or more developmental disabilities, which can include ADHD, hearing loss, autism and cerebral palsy 1 Children with developmental disabilities work with many professionals who can positively impact their lives and help them overcome challenges, making it a rewarding field.8
Top Jobs Working with Children with Special Needs
There are many career options for those interested in helping children with special needs thrive. Note the educational requirements: Your career pathway will determine the best degree for working with kids with special needs.
Special Education Teacher
- Average Annual Salary: $64,2704
- Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Special education teachers specialize in working with kids with disabilities.4 They understand the accommodations and varying approaches that different children may need to reach their greatest potential, and they apply these skills to ensure that children can learn the same skills as their peers. Special education teachers are adept at developing, implementing, evaluating and updating individualized education programs (IEPs) for their students.
There are differences in the working environment of special education teachers. Some may co-teach with another teacher, with their students integrated into a general education classroom alongside peers without special needs. Other teachers may have a separate classroom for their students, without integration.
Occupational Therapist
- Average Annual Salary: $98,3409
- Education Requirements: Master’s degree
Occupational therapists (OTs) help clients hone their skills to complete more tasks of daily living by themselves, increasing their independence.9 These skills are vital for child development. Some disabilities can make it challenging for children to reach the milestone markers alongside their peers.
OTs help children gain the skills and confidence to complete these daily tasks, such as feeding, dressing and caring for themselves. Working on these skills allows children with special needs, especially neurodiverse children with autism and ADHD, to accomplish more themselves, which can boost their mental health.10, 11
Speech-Language Pathologist
- Average Annual Salary: $95,41012
- Education Requirements: Master’s degree
Speech-language pathologists focus on challenges with communication and swallowing disorders. SLPs who work with children with special needs can improve their articulation, semantics, vocalization, syntax and swallowing.
Tips for Working with Kids with Disabilities
Immense value can come from working with children with special needs, but it’s important to keep the following in mind.
Be Patient and Flexible
While children with special needs may have a specific diagnosis, that does not mean that they present with the same challenges as another child with the same diagnosis. No two children are the same, so each requires a tailored approach. When working with children with disabilities, you should be patient and willing to modify your approach as needed.13, 14
Use Correct Language
Words matter, and it’s important to use the correct language when working with children with special needs. Person-centered wording is preferable, as it emphasizes the child rather than their disability.3 It’s also helpful to focus on a strengths-based approach, as this can promote mental health benefits.15, 16
Be Consistent with Expectations
While your approach may need to be flexible, your expectations should be consistent. This way, the children you work with always know what is expected of them.
Work Collaboratively
It takes a village to raise a child, and you are only one member of that village. Parents and caregivers are also important, and it’s best to remember that they know their child best. Their suggestions or concerns should hold significant weight when devising a treatment plan.
To best utilize the parents’ knowledge, establish ongoing communication with those in the child’s home. This way, they can better implement what you work on with the child while providing any updates that can modify your approach.
Collaborative working is also important with other professionals assisting the child, whether therapists, educators or physicians. Partnering with them and sharing knowledge is the best way to ensure the child receives optimal care.
What Do You Need to Work with Children with Special Needs?
The requirements to work with children with special needs vary based on your career path.
Professional requirements such as certification, degree or training program may be necessary. Occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists require a master’s degree. The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) programs at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) both offer hands-on learning experiences that equip future healthcare professionals with the skills to make a meaningful impact on children with special needs.
Beyond the professional requirements, there are specific qualities needed for those who want to work with children with special needs. For instance, those who wish to pursue this field must be patient, as it can take time to understand the child, their challenges and the approach that works best for them. This patience must be accompanied by flexibility and the understanding that what works for one child may not work for another, and each child’s needs can evolve.14
Those interested in working with children with special needs must also be organized and communicative since there are many other professionals that the child may work with. Collaboration is crucial for the child’s success.
Start Your Journey Working with Children with Special Needs
A career in child development, especially one focusing on children with special needs, can be immensely rewarding as you help children meet milestones they may otherwise struggle to reach. Those who work with children with special needs can see their assistance expand into every area of the child’s life, creating a lasting impact.2
There are many different educational and professional opportunities available for those interested in working with children with special needs. Explore the options available to discover a program and career that best fits your interests and how you want to contribute to future-focused care.
Are you interested in how you can pursue a career that supports children with special needs? USAHS offers graduate healthcare programs in occupational therapy and speech-language pathology that emphasize the skills needed to help clients of all needs and ages, including children with special needs.
Salary data may not reflect starting pay for recent graduates.
Sources
- “Developmental Disability Basics,” CDC, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/about/developmental-disability-basics.html.
- “Social Workers,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.
- “Writing Respectfully: Person-First and Identity-First Language,” National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2023, https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/science-health-public-trust/perspectives/writing-respectfully-person-first-identity-first-language.
- “Special Education Teachers,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm.
- “Psychologists,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm
- Beltre, G., & Mendez, M. D. “Child Development,” Nih.gov, 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564386/
- Likhar, A., Baghel, P., & Patil, M. “Early Childhood Development and Social Determinants,” Cureus, 2022, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.29500.
- Azaliney, F. “A Review Of The Job Satisfaction Theory For Special Education Perspective,” Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT), 2023: 12(11), 5224–5228, https://doi.org/10.17762/turcomat.v12i11.6737
- “Occupational Therapists,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm.
- Kirby, A. V., Morgan, L., and Hilton, C, “Autism and Mental Health: The Role of Occupational Therapy,” The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 2023: 77(2), 7702170010, https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.050303.
- Occupational Therapy’s Role in Treating Individuals with ADHD, NYSOTA, 2024, https://www.nysota.org/news/655331/Occupational-Therapys-Role-in-Treating-Individuals-with-ADHD.htm
- “Speech-Language Pathologists,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm.
- Siahaan, M. K. “Education For Children With Special Needs,” The Explora, 2022: 8(2), 14–27, https://doi.org/10.51622/explora.v8i2.642.
- Fernandes, J. B., Godinho, C., Outeiro, T. F., & Baixinho, C. L. “Editorial: Personalized care in neurological diseases,” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2023: 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1216902.
- Lerner, M. D., Gurba, A. N., & Gassner, D. L. “A framework for neurodiversity-affirming interventions for autistic individuals,” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2023: 91(9), 503–504, https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000839.
- Kroll, E., et al. “The positive impact of identity-affirming mental health treatment for neurodivergent individuals,” Frontiers in Psychology, 2024: 15, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1403129.
