Special education, also known as special needs education, as defined by Britannica, is the type of education aimed at children who require changes in traditional school practices because they are socially, mentally, or physically different from the average. This kind of education is intended for children with emotional, behavioural, or cognitive disabilities and those with intellectual, auditory, visual, speech, or learning disabilities, advanced educational capabilities, or orthopaedic or neurological disabilities.
In children with disabilities, offending, disruptive or reprehensible behaviour is sometimes seen, in the classroom or a social environment. Special education teaches the methodology for dealing with such situations where it permits a certain tolerance of disruptive behaviours in an educational setting while educating children to correct them. Special needs teachers also help students who are too aggressive to correct their impulsive behaviour for social acceptance. They are equipped to identify behavioural or learning problems and effectively manage and teach a classroom.
Teachers need to acquire special degrees and certifications to teach students with special needs. Here’s a list of top special education courses designed especially for teachers.
Asian College of Teachers’ Special Education Course (UK)
Special Needs Educational Courses at the Asian College of Teachers (ACT) are designed, developed and delivered online by the Asian College of Teachers Ltd in the United Kingdom. These courses are approved by CPD (UK), NCC (UK) and a portion of the program by CACHE (UK). The course covers the overall learning disabilities in the classroom, focusing on Learning Disabilities, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), and Autism.
The ACT course concentrates on courses to familiarize educators with different disabilities among children and the kind of additional support required to drive effective learning.
Moreover, aspirants opting for the PG course can pursue it as an additional course or certification from the UK.
The course is flexible enough to be pursued from any corner of the globe.
Course Levels & Duration: Certificate (4 Months), Diploma (8 Months) and Post-graduate Diploma (12 Months).
Accreditation: Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC); recognized by UKVI in the UK, a member of CHEA International Quality Group in the USA, British Quality Foundation; Asian College of Teachers (ACT), [awarded commendable grades in Learning, and Teaching; Course Delivery].
Course Fees: For Certificate level 218.13 US (18,000 INR), for Diploma level 424.14 USD (35,000 INR), For Post-Graduate diploma level 545.33 USD (INR 45,000).
IITT: Certificate Course in Special Needs Education
This certificate course aims to help you to be an expert special needs educator and guide you to serve and educate children with preschool and primary disabilities that hinder the educational process in the best way possible. Special needs education promotes academic progress by providing a healthy environment for a person to learn and assess. Teachers trained in special needs education are helping children overcome isolation by encouraging them to meet and speak with people, as social skills are essential to personal growth and achievement.
This Special Education Certificate Course by IITT guides a teacher in developing socially acceptable behaviour and attitude among children with disabilities.
Instructors who have taken this course also act as motivating factors for students with disabilities that help them succeed in their lives.
Course Duration: 3 Months, a total of 60 hours. The flexibility to finish it in a shorter period is also available.
Accreditation: Training Qualifications UK (TQUK), OTHM & Approved Center Association For Early Childhood Education & Development (AECED), Cambridge English Teacher, Lincoln University College and The College of Teachers.
Course Fees: The certificate course in Special Needs Education fee is Rs 11,000 For Online Mode and 220 USD for international students.
Disability Inclusion in Education: Building Systems of Support
Millions of children cannot fully participate in schooling, especially children with disabilities. This course, offered by the University of Cape Town, helps explore and support teachers in addressing the needs of children with severe to profound hearing, visual and intellectual impairments. The course examines how this can be done by engaging with various experts (from teachers to activists) on inclusive education and sharing educational experiences.
Inclusive schooling can only happen if teachers are supported and empowered to make the program accessible to all learners. This course covers the development of confidence in people with disabilities and what children with specific disabilities should know exactly.
The course also shares classroom strategies and teaching activities designed for learners who are hard of hearing, have low vision or have other impairments. By the end of the course, teachers will be able to know the particular needs of learners with disabilities and how to establish support systems for inclusive education. Teachers can purchase a Verified Certificate if they wish to show evidence of their achievements, this is optional, and they may apply for Financial Aid if unable to pay the certificate fee.
The course is a part of the ‘Strengthening Teaching for Children with Profound Hearing, Visual and Intellectual Disabilities in South Africa’ project co-funded by Christoffel-Blinden Mission (CBM) and the European Union.
Course Duration: Approx 14 hours. It is an online-only course.
Offered by: University of Cape Town.
Course Fee: Enrolment for free; however, the fee information is available on request.
School Health for Children and Adolescents Specialization
Kids and teenagers spend much time in school, no matter where they live. Health and learning are closely intertwined in the school environment, where good health and healthy practices create optimal conditions for student success. In addition, the opposite is true: poor health and unhealthy practices significantly hinder student learning.
The University of Collardo offers this specialization course to train and help educators manage common health problems in students, such as asthma, allergies, diabetes, concussions and seizures. The course also focuses on making educators learn how to handle common behaviour conditions such as ADHD and Autism as well as learning disabilities. Upon completing the specialization, educators will be ready to apply newly acquired skills in providing social, emotional, behavioural, and special education services. Most importantly, they will also be prepared to promote healthy practices like nutrition, physical activity, and community and family involvement in their school community.
Course Duration: 2 months (5hr/week).
Offered by: University of Collardo.
Course Fees: Free enrolment, with tuition fees available on request.
London College of Teachers and Trainers: Special Education Courses
The London College of Teachers and Trainers Institute offers an internationally acclaimed special needs educators training course that implements the most valuable strategic approach to special education. The roles and responsibilities of a special needs education teacher are far more challenging than others. Thus, this course is carefully designed to serve all the difficulties of special needs teaching. It offers a three-level training course for special education teachers – Certificate, Diploma, and PG Diploma. It also provides Expert Level Special Needs Teachers Training with specializations in Child Psychology, Autism Awareness, ADHD, and Learning Disability.
While the certificate course gives a primary knowledge of teaching and makes the teacher aware of diverse teaching methods and theories of teaching children with different types of problems, a diploma and advanced diploma gives a deep knowledge of teaching special needs children who have disorders like cerebral palsy, sensory difficulties, and visual and hearing impairment.
Course Duration: Available on request.
Accreditation: Paris University of International Education, CPD UK, Chattered College of Teaching – UK, Skill for English, International TEFL Canada, The Quality Council of India (QCI) and American TEFL – USA.
Course Fees: Available on request.
D.Ed. Special Education (MR): Sanskriti Institute
The D.Ed. Special Education (MR) programme offered by Sanskriti Institute aims to develop professionals for special education in the current millennium. The programme enables educators to acquire knowledge, develop competencies and practice skills to impart education to children with mental retardation.
The course aims to prepare special education teachers at pre-primary (Nursery, kindergarten etc.) and primary (l to lV – lower primary and V to VII – upper primary) levels. The course highlights the following objectives:
- Different aspects of disability, impact and management.
- Educational needs for differently abled children and their management.
- Diverse areas of child development and the relevant mental processes.
In real-time, the course aims to help develop classroom management strategies, personal, professional and social competencies and skills required in special education teachers. It will also help them t better guide children and solve their academic/behaviour problems.
Course Duration: 2 Years.
Accreditation: Sanskriti University.
Course Fees: Available on request.
Recommended read: A Guide On Online Education For Special Ed Educators
