I like working with kids because they are much easier to control, but I want my career to do something with special education or with people with autism. And if you can, can you tell me what kind of degrees (or whatever you call them) I need. I’m in middle school and I want to start getting prepared. Thanks and , of course, 10 points for the best answer.
#1 by Casey on February 20th, 2012
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You need to take the steps to become a teacher.
There are many opportunities to work with Special Needs students. I did it for 20 years and have no regrets.
http://ca.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu8dtyplOMAoA1cDrFAx.?p=How+to+become+a+teacher&fr2=sb-top&fr=ytff1-yff50&rd=r1
#2 by Peachy Perfect on February 20th, 2012
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Here are some of the many possibilities that will provide you with opportunities to work with kids with special needs, and some of them are specifically kids with autism.
1) special education teacher (usually need a bachelor’s degree in special education and sometimes other qualifications)
2) occupational therapist — (here’s a page all about occupational therapy and the requirements to become an occupational therapist http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm )
3) school psychologist (need a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree)
4) speech-language therapist or pathologist — you’d probably end up with more students with autism in this field because of the communication deficits of people with autism (here’s a page on this field and the requirements you need to work in it http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos099.htm )
5) Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, therapist (don’t need any degrees, just need to find an employer who will train you to do the therapy, and probably 95% of people you work with in this field will be kids with autism because it’s the most popular and most researched known intervention for kids with autism) — I do this right now, so email me if you want more info
6) Behavior Analyst — these people don’t work as much directly with kids with autism, but they design interventions and programs for the kids with autism, and train ABA therapists. You need a graduate degree and to pass a national exam for this. This is what I’m in graduate school for right now, so you can email me for more info on this too.
#3 by Bill on February 20th, 2012
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You need a masters in social work or a teaching degree with a certificate for special education.