The demand for qualified special education professionals is steadily increasing across Canada. With a growing awareness of diverse learning needs and advancements in inclusive education, there’s a critical need for people with the skills to support children with exceptionalities.
In this post, we explore the rising demand for special education professionals and the factors driving this trend. We also talk about career opportunities in the field, the skills needed to succeed, and the pros and cons of going down this path.
Let’s dive in.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- The Growing Need for Special Education Professionals
- Career Opportunities in Special Education
- Skills Needed to Work With Children With Exceptionalities
- The Role of Early Childhood Education in Supporting Exceptional Children
- Challenges and Rewards of Careers in Special Education
- How to Explore a Career Path in Special Education
THE GROWING NEED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS
The past several years have seen a steady increase in the number of students being identified as needing special education services. Ontario alone saw a 20 per cent jump in the number of students receiving such services between 2009 and 2018.
That’s partly because advances in medical and psychological research allow earlier and more accurate diagnoses of conditions like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities. More students who need support means greater demand for skilled professionals to provide specialized services.
And there simply aren’t enough of those professionals to go around. It’s not uncommon for schools to ask parents to keep special needs students at home because there aren’t enough education assistants and other staff available to support them.
In Ontario, the proportion of elementary principals who had to make such recommendations grew from 48 per cent in 2013-14 to 63 per cent a decade later. And in Quebec alone, there were 1,200 vacant positions for special education technicians heading into the 2024-25 school year.
According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, the outlook for special education assistants is good across most of the country through 2026. Nearly every province receives a four-star rating (out of a possible five) for employment and growth in this occupation.
The bottom line is that the demand for special education professionals should continue for the foreseeable future.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
All special education professionals aim to provide a supportive, inclusive, and adaptive educational environment for students. They can work in public or private schools, preschools and early learning centres, community programs, and private homes.
Keep in mind that many professionals work with children with exceptionalities, even if their role is not specifically designated as special education. Almost every daycare provider, classroom teacher, and education assistant will interact with and support children with widely varying needs.
That said, below are some common careers in special education and their typical responsibilities:
Special Education Teachers
- Conduct assessments to identify student’s strengths and weaknesses and determine appropriate accommodations and modifications
- Develop individualized education plans (IEPs) for each student
- Adapt curriculum and teaching methods to meet the diverse learning needs of students
- Provide direct instruction in various subjects, such as reading, math, and social skills
- Communicate with parents and encourage them to be involved
Special Education Assistants
- Help students with classroom activities and assignments
- Provide small group or one-on-one support with specific skills, such as reading or writing
- Assist with daily living skills, such as feeding, toileting, and mobility
- Participate in IEP meetings
- Assist with classroom management and behaviour support
Speech-Language Pathologists
- Evaluate students’ speech, language, and communication skills
- Diagnose conditions such as articulation disorders, language delays, and stuttering
- Provide direct therapy services to support students’ communication development in the classroom and at home
Occupational Therapists
- Evaluate students’ motor skills, sensory processing abilities, and daily living skills
- Develop and implement plans to improve fine motor skills (e.g., handwriting), gross motor skills (e.g., balance and coordination), and sensory processing
- Provide adaptive equipment and assistive technology to support student learning and independence
There are many career paths related to supporting children with special needs
SKILLS NEEDED TO WORK WITH CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES
“Some would argue that there’s no real difference between working with children with typical development and atypical development. However, depending on the extent of the exceptionality, different skills come into play,” says Herzing instructor Marjolaine Jeanty, who has worked in the early childhood education field for over 15 years.
“You have to know child development and you have to know about that exceptionality to approach it appropriately. It’s not a question of personality; it’s the exceptionality itself that creates some of the behaviour we would qualify as challenging.”
Here are some of the most essential skills when it comes to supporting children with special needs:
Patience and understanding: Children with learning disabilities and other exceptionalities may require extra time to learn and may experience challenges that other children do not.
Empathy and compassion: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others is critical for connecting with children and providing emotional support.
Communication and interpersonal skills: You need to pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues to understand students’ needs and emotions. You also need to be able to explain concept and instructions in ways that are accessible to students with varying abilities.
Flexibility and adaptability: Every child is unique, and individual learning plans may need to be adjusted frequently.
Behavioural management: You should be familiar with techniques like positive reinforcement or applied behaviour analysis (ABA) to address behavioural challenges. You must be able to manage conflicts or emotional outbursts in a constructive and supportive manner.
Cultural sensitivity: Understanding and respecting the diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences of students and their families is important to ensure all students feel valued and included.
“To work with children with special needs, you must have a lot of patience, a lot of empathy, and a lot of grace—for the child and especially for the parents,” says Marjolaine.
“Once there is a discovery of a special need, the parents go through stages of mourning. That’s hard news to receive. It’s important to be graceful and to be kind.”
THE ROLE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN SUPPORTING EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
Preschool teachers and daycare providers are often the first professionals to notice when a child shows atypical development. They play a crucial role in supporting children with exceptionalities by identifying potential areas of concern and helping the child and family through early intervention.
For example, as part of Herzing’s early childhood education program, students receive training on intervention for children with exceptionalities.
“The main aspect of this class is to be able to identify the early behaviour related to exceptionalities. Now, an early childhood educator cannot diagnose. We don’t have the medical authority to do so. An educator cannot say, oh, I think he has autism, why don’t you take him for assessment? No, that’s not the way to go about it,” says Marjolaine.
“So in our program we speak about that respect to know your place, but to be able to tell the difference between atypical and typical development. If he’s two years old and he doesn’t walk, you should have already said something. But if he’s 11 months and doesn’t walk, there’s no need for concern. Let’s just wait.
“We teach child development in that particular class and in all classes, really, because you have to know about typical growth.”
Early childhood educators support each child’s development
CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF CAREERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Working in special education demands patience, creativity, and resilience, but it also offers immense personal and professional fulfillment. Below are some of the challenges and rewards.
Challenges
- Emotional demands: Working with children with exceptionalities can be emotionally demanding. Witnessing challenges and setbacks can be difficult, and you need resilience to maintain a positive and supportive attitude.
- Limited resources: Budget constraints and a shortage of trained personnel can make it tough to provide students with the necessary support and accommodations.
- Behavioural challenges: Some students may exhibit challenging behaviours, like hitting, biting, or throwing things. Managing emotional outbursts in a way that maintains safety for all students can be difficult.
Rewards
- Making a difference: Watching students progress and seeing them overcome challenges and reach their full potential is deeply fulfilling. You get to play a crucial role in helping them develop skills, confidence, and independence.
- Building relationships: Developing close relationships with students, families, and colleagues fosters a sense of community and shared purpose.
- Impacting communities: Helping peers, families, and society understand and embrace diversity is rewarding. Your work contributes to creating a more inclusive and equitable world.
HOW TO EXPLORE A CAREER PATH IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Gaining some relevant experience is an excellent first step. Look for volunteer opportunities in schools, community centres, or organizations that support individuals with exceptionalities. Or ask to shadow a special education teacher, therapist, or other professional to get a first-hand look at the realities of the job.
If you decide to pursue a career in this field, formal training is essential. Teachers and therapists need at least a bachelor’s degree and a licence to practise. But you can find work in daycares, preschools, and even public schools (as a teacher assistant) by completing a college program in early childhood education.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES
The early childhood education program from Herzing College teaches students how to develop and deliver educational activities for children with varying needs. Graduates are prepared for roles as educators in daycares or preschools as well as teaching assistants in elementary schools.
The program takes just 14 months to complete and includes several weeks of hands-on work experience.
Click below to get full program details and chat with a friendly admissions advisor. We’re here to help!
