I am graduating high school in December (a semester early) and would love to work with mentally/physically disabled CHILDREN. For example, I would love to work one-on-one with disabled children in a physical-therapist-type way to help their disablement. IE: working with autistic children to improve motor, vocal, and social skills.
NOT a school/life aid.
What is the name for this, if there is one?
Also- if you have any clue on what degree would be needed, that’d help too!
There are a number of careers that work with young people with Cognitive/Intellectually impairment. Some such as the Occupational Therapist & Physical Therapist may work closely together to ensure the child is getting the best supports and outcomes.
Specialist teacher
Speech/Language Pathologist
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Educational psychologist
Social worker
Family worker
Child social worker
Disability social worker
Disability support worker
Teachers aide
Each of these have some sort of qualifications, some obviously more then others. Try doing some voluntary working at a special school or other disability support program, this is a great way of finding if you will like the work, as well as seek advice about the qualifications needed.
Many of my friends and colleagues and I started out volunteering in special schools, developing a passion for the work.
The link I have added gives a little information about OT’s, and if you scan down to the left side of the web page, there is a link to PT’s. Which help in understanding what qualifications you need, as well as gaining further qualification if required.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Occupational Therapist, the second link has all the details for requirements
References :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_Therapist
http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageID=424
November 27th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Could be an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, recreation therapist (art. music, hippo/horse, play), a child life therapist, or speech therapist.
This includes a description of some of these: http://www.hugsfoundation.org/physical.htm
http://www.beaumontchildrenshospital.com/physical-therapy/recreation-life-services
References :
November 28th, 2009 at 12:08 am
you will need to go to college to be a physical tehrapy or occupational therapy (OT)aid-
early intervention has Developmental Intervention where you go to teh childresn houses/daycare you usually need some experience and/or college—you could get a related degree in education or psychology
you could work in social services in recreation programs or group homes in programs like
ARC
a full PT/OT is a masters level program–you would start with a BA in a related filed–with Biology, psychology, education courses
there are some BA level speech tehrapy programs–but jobopportunities are limited
References :
November 28th, 2009 at 12:21 am
There are a number of careers that work with young people with Cognitive/Intellectually impairment. Some such as the Occupational Therapist & Physical Therapist may work closely together to ensure the child is getting the best supports and outcomes.
Specialist teacher
Speech/Language Pathologist
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Educational psychologist
Social worker
Family worker
Child social worker
Disability social worker
Disability support worker
Teachers aide
Each of these have some sort of qualifications, some obviously more then others. Try doing some voluntary working at a special school or other disability support program, this is a great way of finding if you will like the work, as well as seek advice about the qualifications needed.
Many of my friends and colleagues and I started out volunteering in special schools, developing a passion for the work.
The link I have added gives a little information about OT’s, and if you scan down to the left side of the web page, there is a link to PT’s. Which help in understanding what qualifications you need, as well as gaining further qualification if required.
References :
Youth & Disability support worker and sessional teacher.
http://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/faqs/progtypesot