by Karen Ardy

Created on: July 20, 2009

Have you ever wanted to work with children in a meaningful and rewarding manner? Become a Special Education Teaching Assistant. Many colleges in Canada have diploma programs that enable you to become very skilled and knowledgable in the special needs of students in the school system. Some school boards offer their own training for employment with that specific school board and although this training usually only qualifies you for work in one locale, if you know you are where you want to be in life, this is a viable and somewhat less expensive option.

A Special Education Teaching Assistant (SETA or SEA) works with children that are struggling to obtain their education for a wide variety of reasons. Autism is almost at an epidemic proportion and more and more children need the individual attention to succeed that the classroom teacher can not provide. Children with Down syndrome, ADD, ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, hearing and sight impairments and the children on the Autism Spectrum are some of the children you will be working with on a daily basis. Other children have physical impairments such as Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida. And there are the children that come from troubled and tortured homes and backgrounds that display behavioural difficulties. An education as a SETA will bring you an overview of many of these conditions and how best to work with the child afflicted.

As well as becoming educated in the various disabilities that affect many of our young people, you will also learn about the importance of working within the education system and the vital importance of keeping records and up-to-date charts about the child. The importance of the Individual Education Plan will be explained and how to take part in the organization and implementation of these plans. There are a number of legalities involved in working with children and it is important to be well versed in all of these. The different ages of children bring differences in their level of development, interests and skills and understanding the newest research on the minds of children and how their minds work is invaluable.

But, can you do it? Can you go to work everyday and deal with a child that is violent and often leaves you with physical bruises and a battered ego? Can you toilet and diaper an eight year old or have a 14 year old drool all over your arm without having your stomach churn? Can you see and appreciate the very small accomplishments and patiently repeat a lesson

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