Jobs Working With Handicapped Children
Working with handicapped children can be a rich and fulfilling experience and there are many wonderful careers that can make a difference in a child's life. It's important for anyone entering a career in this field to be aware that handicapped children need be be treated like any other child as much as possible. Working with handicapped children means helping them grow, gain independence and develop confidence in themselves and the world around them.
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Special Education Teacher
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Special education teachers work with all types of children who have a variety of disabilities. While some students need class time to develop common life skills and basic literary abilities, most students require the aid of special education teacher to help them understand the general education curriculum. It may take a bit longer for some students to grasp the material, and special education teachers teach the material in a way they can understand. Most special education teachers can find employment opportunities in elementary, junior high and secondary schools.
Physical Therapist
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Movement is an essential part of a child's learning and development. When a child's normal movement is impaired, a physical therapist can help him learn about himself and the world around him. Physical therapists evaluate a child's handicap by analyzing their muscle tone, flexibility, strength, balance, posture, coordination, motor skills, breathing patterns and physical fitness. After the evaluation, physical therapists create a treatment plan that is designed to develop new movements, enhance strength and improve flexibility.
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Speech Therapist
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Having speech and language abilities are an integral part of life and necessary for any social interactions and educational development. A speech therapist has the ability to determine whether or not these skills are developing at a normal rate or if intervention is needed. Speech therapists study a child's receptive language, expressive language, fluency, articulation, voice and augmentative communication. Speech therapists have specific exercises that can help a handicap child overcome any difficulties with communication and understanding language.
Occupational Therapist
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An occupational therapist works with handicapped children and assists them in achieving a high level of function and independence in school readiness, self-reliance, play and leisure skills. Occupational therapists help children with their cognitive, visual motor activities, upper extremity development, adaptive devices, fine motor activities, visual perception, behavioral state, sensory function and daily living skills.Occupational therapists want to ensure that children enhance their emotional-social development, improve sleeping patterns, increase communication and encourage relaxation.
Camp Counselor
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The desire to work with handicapped children is very common, and there are many opportunities to work as a counselor for handicapped children at camps, such as the American Camp Association. Counselors quickly realize that despite any preconceived notions, the experience becomes very rewarding. Camp counselors have many duties and responsibilities, but their primary concern is child safety. Counselors may need to walk children through the woods, lift a child into a wheelchair or help them eat a meal.
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