Students in special education are likely to encounter all the challenges other students face while also contending with a variety of unique difficulties. These students in particular need a caring, sincere, and highly trained teacher to guide them through their education experience—especially when mainstreaming special education students is becoming the norm. Here we’ll discuss some of these possible hardships and introduce you to programs that will help you build the qualifications to set special education students up for success in the classroom and beyond.   

Understanding Their Unique Difficulties 

The most common special education hardships can be divided into four categories: 

Learning Challenges 

A student in special education may not be able to grasp some lessons as quickly as other classmates: a deficit attributable to dyslexia, ADHD, or a variety of other conditions. Some may require individualized instruction or need other special learning arrangements to be made. Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are sometimes difficult for students and their families to navigate. 

Interpersonal Challenges 

A student in special education may be more prone to experience difficulties in following social norms, including controlling their emotions, and may have a tough time making friends. They may also endure more bullying or shunning by fellow students. 

Resource Challenges 

Mainstreaming is an important but controversial step toward “normalizing” life for students with special needs. Yet a mainstream classroom may lack special education services and technologies for these students due to insufficient staffing or budget shortfalls. Administrators of some schools may not fully comprehend how to meet these students’ specific needs. 

Post-Graduation Challenges 

Most students are either going to find jobs, join the military, or go to college or technical school upon graduating high school. This is a particularly challenging time for special education students, who may have more limited options than other graduates. This transition often necessitates additional support services for students in special education 

Lessening Hardships for Students in Special Education 

You may not have control over all the factors that cause hardships for students in special education, but you can prepare to guide these students through the learning process with understanding and expertise to ease their challenges. The University of Texas Permian Basin’s CAEP-accredited special education master’s degree programs equip you to be a more impactful teacher and mentor to generations of students that need some extra attention in the classroom. We offer all these programs online—a flexible learning format that allows you to work at your own pace while maintaining your professional and personal duties. Log in from any location with internet access at any hour of the day. 

Master of Arts in Special Education 

UTPB’s online special education programs aim to empower students with developmental and learning disabilities, enabling them to lead more fulfilling and independent lives. With a focus on technology and innovation, our master’s degree in special education delves into the crucial role these elements play in today’s inclusive classrooms. By equipping educators with essential tools, we address pressing challenges such as working with limited resources, fostering diversity, creating inclusive learning environments, and identifying individual student needs. 

  • No GRE is required. 
  • Complete your degree in as little as one year. 
  • Use a TEACH Grant to fund up to $4,000 of your master’s degree program per year, if eligible. 

View program courses. 

Master of Arts in Special Education, Autism Spectrum Disorders track 

Designed for individuals with a passion for supporting students on the autism spectrum, our MA in special education also offers a specialized track focused on autism spectrum disorders. This track delves into the comprehensive study of the physical and cognitive development of individuals on the autism spectrum across their lifespan. This tailored curriculum emphasizes the significance of technology, innovation, and inclusion within the dynamic landscape of modern special education. 

  • No GRE is required. 
  • Complete your degree in as little as one year. 
  • Use a TEACH Grant to fund up to $4,000 of your master’s degree program per year, if eligible. 

View program courses. 

Master of Arts in Special Education, Educational Diagnostician track 

Our MA in special education’s educational diagnostician track is tailored for individuals seeking expertise in identifying and assessing the unique learning needs of individual students. This specialized track explores the integration of technology and innovation in modern special education and provides comprehensive instruction in standardized and curriculum-based assessment methods to effectively identify and address learning or developmental barriers in students. 

  • No GRE is required. 
  • Complete your degree in as little as two years. 
  • Use a TEACH Grant to fund up to $4,000 of your master’s degree program per year, if eligible. 
  • Become eligible for Texas Educational Diagnostician Certification. 

View program courses. 

By this time next year, you could be finishing your special education master’s degree! Get started now. 

Sources: 
https://www.ncld.org/research/state-of-learning-disabilities/social-emotional-and-behavioral-challenges/