Special Needs Teacher

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers (4142) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers (E132) 
• 2011 NOC: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (4032) 
• 2016 NOC: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (4032) 

Special needs teachers spend most of their working day providing instruction and handling unexpected as well as routine situations. They work with children who have:

• Physical or developmental disabilities
• Hearing, visual, speech or language disabilities
• Learning disabilities
• Behaviour disorders or mental illness
• High intelligence or talent

Special needs teachers must understand the unique characteristics of each student and choose or develop appropriate instructional programs and methods. Teaching techniques and methods vary with the particular disability or special talent but, in general, special needs teachers:

• Work closely with parents and professionals from community agencies
• Perform diagnostic assessments to determine student strengths and areas of need
• Develop educational goals, objectives and individualized program plans
• Choose or develop individualized educational programs (IEPs), using specially designed instructional methods and materials
• Prepare and present lessons
• Use assistive technologies where appropriate
• Monitor student performance and assess each student’s progress
• Work with teaching assistants

Their working environments and responsibilities may vary considerably. For example, special needs teachers may:

• Teach all or most subjects for a class of children who have a variety of disabilities or a particular type of difficulty
• Meet with students from regular school classrooms on an individual basis or in small groups, and work in cooperation with classroom teachers to help children who have learning disabilities, language deficiencies or academic deficiencies
• Travel from school to school providing tutorial services for students who are hearing or vision impaired and providing consultative services for classroom teachers
• Work with therapists in special clinics in which children receive assessments, therapy or instruction
• Work with other teachers to adapt educational programs for students with special needs in regular classrooms

Special needs teachers also may work in:

• Special schools with many classes of children with disabilities
• Hospitals for children with short- and long-term disabilities or illnesses
• The homes of children who are homebound due to sickness, rehabilitation needs or severe physical disabilities
• Institutional schools for children who have neuropsychiatric, emotional or social disabilities

For more information, go to the Inclusive Education page on the Government of Alberta website.

Working with children who have special needs requires considerable physical, mental and emotional stamina. Other working conditions for special needs teachers vary depending on student needs and on the type of facility and its philosophy. For example, some special needs teachers may lift over 20 kilograms when helping children move to and from wheelchairs.

Special needs teachers are employed in public and private schools and in hospitals and other institutions. With experience and additional training, they may advance to positions in school administration or consulting services.

Special needs teachers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 4032: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers. In Alberta, 99% of people employed in this classification work in the Educational Services [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• Trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Educational Services industry)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation

In Alberta, the 4032: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 754 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years. The Alberta Teachers’ Association estimates that about 900 teaching positions will become vacant each year due to retirement.

Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) website: www.teachers.ab.ca

Inclusion Canada website: inclusioncanada.ca

Learning Disabilities Association of Canada website: www.ldac-acta.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.