Instructors and Teachers of Persons with Disabilities
(NOC 4215)
in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community ServicesInstructors and teachers of persons with disabilities teach children and adults using a variety of techniques to support communication, rehabilitation, social skills, and increased independence. Instructors and teachers of disabled persons may teach reading and writing braille and sign language or may help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to develop life skills. They work in rehabilitation centres, specialized educational institutes, and throughout the public-school system.
Job Outlook
Average
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Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “average”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is comparable to the average for all occupations in Nova Scotia. This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. The number employed in this occupation is expected to decline moderately over the next few years, which will likely limit the number of new opportunities available. With a small percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are not expected to be a major contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Instructors of Persons With Disabilities most commonly work full-time hours.
The median employment income for 60% of Instructors of Persons With Disabilities who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $48,496. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
$14.72
Minimum$23.73
Median$41.73
MaximumAnnual Pay
$7,316
Minimum$44,256
Median$83,227
MaximumCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Hourly Pay
$14.74
Minimum$33.28
Median$46.76
MaximumAnnual Pay
$5,616
Minimum$44,335
Median$92,599
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Instructors and teachers of persons with disabilities teach children and adults using a variety of techniques to support communication, rehabilitation, social skills, and increased independence. Instructors and teachers of disabled persons may teach reading and writing braille and sign language or may help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to develop life skills. They work in rehabilitation centres, specialized educational institutes, and throughout the public-school system.
Job duties
Instructors and teachers of persons with disabilities:
- Develop individualized education and intervention plans based on special needs and learning style of the student to support their re-adaptation and independence objectives.
- Assess individuals’ physical limitations, orientation and mobility skills, and cognitive, social, and emotional barriers to establish client rehabilitation or adaptation goals.
- Help individuals with physical, intellectual, visual, and hearing disabilities, or multiple disorders to develop life skills and provide job training.
- Instruct individuals with disabilities and their families in the use of rehabilitative techniques, prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, and other equipment designed to maximize clients' independence and potential.
- Instruct persons with a visual impairment in reading and writing braille and in the use of special equipment or supports like human or animal guides, long canes, and other adaptive mobility devices.
- Instruct persons who are hard of hearing or deaf in lip-reading, finger spelling, and sign language according to individual communication needs.
- Instruct persons who are hard of hearing or deaf in the formation and development of sounds for speech using hearing aids, and other devices and techniques.
- Support communication between the student and their peers.
- Work with children, parents, schools, and other professionals to coordinate services and develop programs for students' special needs.
Sample job titles
- Autism specialist
- behaviour support teacher
- braille instructor
- instructor of persons with a mobility impairment
- instructor of persons with disabilities
- instructor of persons with special needs
- language acquisition support worker - ASL
- learning centre teacher
- orientation and mobility instructor
- rehabilitation teacher
- resource teacher
- sign language teacher
- special education technician - persons with disabilities
- teacher of persons who are blind or visually impaired
- teacher of persons who are deaf or hearing impaired
Skills
You should be patient, imaginative, objective, and resourceful. Leadership skills and the ability to motivate students are important. You must have strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate ideas in a clear, concise, and interesting way, both orally and in writing. Planning, problem solving, and organizational skills are also necessary. Experience and training in early childhood education may be required. Instructors must be knowledgeable about their subjects and keep informed of new material or methods of teaching.
Job requirements
- A college program in special education, rehabilitation, orientation and mobility, visual impairment, hearing impairment or intellectual disability is required.
- A bachelor's degree in special education or a related field like social work or psychology may be required.
- Nova Scotia Teacher Certification is required for teachers working with students with disabilities in the public school system.
- Teachers who work in the public school system require a Master’s degree in their area of specialization.
- Membership in a provincial association or union may be required.
Other considerations
Both part-time and self-employment are relatively common for this group. A valid driver’s licence and regular travel with personal vehicle may be required for some jobs in this group. You must be comfortable working in a variety of settings (e.g. schools, preschools, in the home). These roles are demanding and require considerable physical, mental, and emotional energy.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
Southern
North Shore
Cape Breton
Annapolis Valley
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health care and social assistance
Educational services
Public administration
What is the age of Employment?
35-44
25-34
45-54
55-64
15-24
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
35-44
45-54
25-34
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
Bachelor
$41,076 median annual incomeMaster
$82,191 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$37,702 median annual incomeHigh school
N/AApprenticeship
N/ACompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Bachelor
$45,929 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$35,398 median annual incomeMaster
$71,043 median annual incomeHigh school
$29,055 median annual incomeDoctorate
$100,443 median annual incomeEducation & training
American Sign Language (ASL)
This program may be offered at the college, trades, or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that focuses on American Sign Language as a visual and motor medium of communication and discourse for deaf individuals and deaf culture. These programs include courses in the development of ASL, ASL morphology and syntax, signing technique, English translation of ASL, formal and colloquial ASL, and ASL transcription.
Institutions providing this program
80 Mawiomi Place
Dartmouth, NS B2Y 0A5
(902) 491-1100
Applied behaviour analysis
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that focuses on the application of principles of learning and behaviour to enhance the development, abilities, and choices of children and adults; and that prepares individuals to address the behavioural needs of individuals, especially those with developmental disabilities and autism. These programs include courses in behaviour analysis and learning, behavioural and functional assessment, developmental psychology, applied behavioural analysis in developmental disabilities and autism, applied behavioural analysis in mental health and aging, research methods, evaluation of interventions, and professional and ethical issues.
Institutions providing this program
50 Elliott Road
Middleton, NS B0S 1M0
(902) 825-3491
226 Reeves Street
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2A2
(902) 625-2380
Deaf studies
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that focuses on the sociological, historical and linguistic aspects of the deaf and hearing impaired, and that prepares individuals to work with the deaf and hearing impaired. These programs include courses in sign language, deaf studies, deaf culture, structure of sign language, history of the deaf community, and civil rights of deaf people.
Education of individuals with multiple disabilities
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that focuses on the design of educational services for children or adults with multiple disabilities which adversely affect their educational performance and that prepares individuals to teach such students. These programs include courses in identifying students with multiple disabilities, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising multiple handicapped students, counselling, and applicable laws and policies.
Institutions providing this program
236 Belcher Street
Kentville, NS B4N 0A6
(902) 678-7341
75 High Street
Bridgewater, NS B4V 1V8
(902) 543-4608
PO Box 1042, 1240 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, NS B1P 6J7
(902) 563-2450
Education of students who are blind or visually impaired
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that focuses on the design of educational services for children or adults with visual disabilities which adversely affect their educational performance and that prepares individuals to teach such students. These programs include courses in identifying students with visual impairments, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising blind or visually handicapped students, counselling, and applicable laws and policies.
Institutions providing this program
166 Bedford Highway
Halifax, NS B3M 2J6
(902) 457-6117
Education of students who are deaf or hard of hearing
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that focuses on the design of educational services for children or adults with hearing impairments including deafness which adversely affect their educational performance, and that prepares individuals to teach such students. These programs include courses in identifying students with hearing impairments, including deafness, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising hearing-impaired students, counselling, and applicable laws and policies.
Institutions providing this program
166 Bedford Highway
Halifax, NS B3M 2J6
(902) 457-6117
Education of students with autism
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that focuses on the design of educational services for children or adults with autism, and that prepares individuals to teach such students. These programs include courses in identifying students with autism, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising autistic students, counselling, and applicable laws and policies.
Psychology - General
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behaviour, the physical and environmental bases of behaviour, and the analysis and treatment of behaviour problems and disorders. These programs include courses in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
Institutions providing this program
Office of the Registrar
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
(902) 494-2450
6350 Coburg Road
Halifax, NS B3H 2A1
(902) 422-1271
166 Bedford Highway
Halifax, NS B3M 2J6
(902) 457-6117
PO Box 5000
Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5
(902) 867-2219
923 Robie Street
Halifax, NS B3H 3C3
(902) 420-5400
PO Box 5300 1250 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, NS B1P 6L2
(888) 959-9995
Social work - General
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counselling, and that focuses on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. These programs include courses in social welfare policy; case work planning; social counselling and intervention strategies; administrative procedures and regulations; and specific applications in areas such as child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counselling.
Institutions providing this program
Office of the Registrar
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
(902) 494-2450
Siège Social: 1695, Route 1
Pointe-de-l'Église, NS B0W 1M0
(902) 769-2114
Special education and teaching - General
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any general program that focuses on the design and provision of teaching and other educational services to children or adults with special learning needs or disabilities, and that prepares individuals to function as special education teachers. These programs include courses in diagnosing learning disabilities, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising special education students, special education counselling, and applicable laws and policies.
Institutions providing this program
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Special Requirements: Nova Scotia Teacher Certification is required to work in the public school system. Certification may be required by other education related employers.
Professional Designation: Professional designation exists and shows that the holder has met the standards for the job. Employers may require professional designation, but professional designation is not necessary to do this work.
Contacts
Additional resources
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