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/ATrade Certification
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)
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs focus on American Sign Language as a visual and motor medium of communication and discourse for deaf individuals and deaf culture. They 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
Applied Behaviour Analysis
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on applying principles of learning and behaviour to enhance the development, abilities, and choices of children and adults and prepares students to address the behavioural needs of individuals, especially those with developmental disabilities and autism. They 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
Port Hawkesbury, NS
Education of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the design of educational services for children or adults with visual disabilities that adversely affect their educational performance and that prepares individuals to teach such students. They 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
Education of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the design of educational services for children or adults with hearing impairments including deafness that adversely affect their educational performance, and that prepares individuals to teach such students. They 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
Education of Students with Multiple Disabilities
College or University ProgramThese programs focus 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. They 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
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of various racial and ethnic groups, women’s studies, gay/lesbian studies, folklore studies, disability studies, and deaf studies.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Sydney, NS
Psychology
College or University ProgramThese programs focus 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. They include courses in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Sydney, NS
Social Work
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counselling, and focus on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. They include courses in social welfare policy, case work planning, social counselling and intervention strategies, administrative procedures and regulations, and specific applications in areas like child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counselling.
Institutions providing this program
Special Education and Teaching - General
College or University ProgramThese programs focus 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. They 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
Wolfville, NS
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
There are no additional resources for this occupation.