A Day in the Life of a Mentally Disabled Teacher Back to Top

Mentally disabled, also known as developmental disability, is a term used in the United States to describe life-long disabilities attributable to mental and/or physical or combination of mental and physical impairments manifested before the age of 18. The term is used most commonly in the United States to refer to disabilities affecting daily functioning in three or more of the following areas: capacity for independent living, economic self-sufficiency, learning, mobility, receptive and expressive language, self-care and self-direction. The term first appeared in U.S. law in 1970, when Congress used the term to describe the population of individuals who had historically been placed in state institutions in its effort to improve conditions in there. The law has since been amended many times, and now calls for the full community inclusion and self-determination of people who are mentally disabled and have developmental disabilities.

People with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, various genetic and chromosomal disorders such as; Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder are described as having developmental disabilities. Developmental disabilities are usually classified as severe, profound, moderate or mild, as assessed by the individual’s need for supports, which may be lifelong.

Those who are mentally disabled are taught in a special education classroom by a special education teacher. A small number of special education teachers work with students with severe cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities, primarily teaching them life skills and basic literacy. However, the majority of special education teachers work with children with mild to moderate disabilities, using or modifying the general education curriculum to meet the child’s individual needs and providing required remedial instruction.

Becoming a special education teacher is not that different from becoming any other type of teacher. There are different types of courses and rules that vary per state, but the process is still similar all around. The road to becoming a special education teacher begins with receiving a bachelor’s degree. Many choose to get a degree in education, and there are several colleges that offer a four-year degree in special education. An education degree is not necessary, however, as it is possible to take the education classes later on while obtaining a teaching credential. There are more specialized classes to take when preparing to become a special education teacher. Courses like educational psychology, legal issues in special education, and strategy courses for teachers of children with disabilities are all common. Different states have different education requirements, but most require that students take a lot of courses specializing in children with special needs.

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