Specialist in Special Education

A special education specialist helps students with disabilities learn and take part fully in school. You might work with children who have learning differences, autism, speech or language challenges, attention difficulties, or physical and intellectual disabilities. Your day includes teaching small groups or whole classes, adapting lessons, tracking progress, and writing and updating each student's individualized education program, often called an IEP. You meet with parents, general education teachers, therapists, and school psychologists to plan supports, and you keep careful records because federal law gives students and families specific rights.