Diploma in Special Education - About, Specialisation, Colleges, Process, Career Growth and more

Diploma in Special Education - About, Specialisation, Colleges, Process, Career Growth and more

6 mins readComment
Vikrant
Vikrant Shukla
Deputy Manager
Updated on Aug 22, 2024 16:22 IST

Students planning to make a career in special education can either get enrolled for a degree course or they can get a diploma in special education to pursue a career. In this article on Diploma in Special Education, we have shared every detail for students aspiring to make a career in this field.

Diploma in Special Education

Diploma in Special Education

Diploma in Special Education: Special education is teaching to specially-abled students and the job role includes creating individually planned teaching procedures for each student and making it easy and accessible for them. Students planning to make a career in special education can either get enrolled for a degree course or they can get a diploma in special education to pursue a career. This course is beneficial for candidates aspiring to become special educators and wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of students with hearing impairments, visual impairments, intellectual disabilities, and more. 

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Who is a Special Education Teacher?

A special education teacher makes strategies for specially-abled students who might have problems focusing and require a long time to complete reading and writing assignments. Students aspiring to become special educators are required to have a degree in the same, be it a full-time degree or a diploma degree. In this article on Diploma in Special Education, we have shared every detail for students aspiring to make a career in this field.

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Diploma in Special Education: Overview

Particulars

Details

Course Name

Diploma in Special Education (D.Ed. Special Education)

Duration

1-2 years

Eligibility

10+2 or equivalent (with minimum 50% marks)

Admission Process

Merit-Based/Entrance Exam (Depends upon college/institution)

Specializations

Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Learning Disabilities, etc.

Course Fees

INR 10,000 - INR 1,00,000 (varies by institution)

Job Roles

  • Special Education Teacher
  • Counselor
  • Educational Therapist
  • Resource Teacher

Average Salary

INR 4 - 6 LPA (Salary depends upon experience, job location, and institution)

Top Recruiters

  • Government and Private Schools
  • NGOs
  • Rehabilitation Centers
  • Special Education Centers

Diploma in Special Education - Course and its Characteristics

The Diploma in Special Education course will educate students with the required skills, knowledge, and methodologies to teach specially-abled children. With the help of this course, students will have a deep understanding of various disabilities and by the end of this course, they will learn specialized training for addressing the diverse educational needs of these children.

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Types of Special Education

The Diploma in Special Education typically offers various specialization tracks, each focusing on specific disabilities. From the following pointers, candidates can check the detailed overview of the key specializations and their characteristics:

1. Hearing Impairment (HI)

In this specialization, candidates will learn the techniques and methods to educate students who have hearing issues. It covers sign language communication, speech therapy, and auditory training.

  • Skills: Lip reading, auditory-verbal therapy, understanding usage of hearing aids, and cochlear implants.
  • Career Growth: Special education teacher in schools for deaf, speech, and hearing clinics.

2. Visual Impairment (VI)

Candidates will be taught about students who are blind or have low vision. It includes Braille reading and writing, orientation and mobility training, and the use of assistive technology for the visually impaired.

  • Skills: Braille proficiency, sensory skill enhancement, assistive tech usage (like screen readers).
  • Career Growth: Teacher blind schools, Braille instructor, mobility trainer.

3. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Understanding the unique educational needs of students on the autism spectrum. The training involves behavior management strategies, social skills development, and individualized education program (IEP) design.

  • Skills: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), sensory integration techniques, and communication skill enhancement.
  • Career Growth: Autism specialist, special educator in schools, and private therapy centers.

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4. Learning Disabilities (LD)

Focusing on teaching strategies and interventions for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or other learning disabilities. It emphasizes individualized instruction methods and the use of assistive technology.

  • Skills: Multisensory teaching methods, remedial education techniques, cognitive skill-building.
  • Career Growth: Resource teacher, learning disability specialist, educational therapist.

5. Intellectual Disabilities (ID)

Covers teaching for students with mild to severe intellectual disabilities, emphasizing life skills training, adaptive curriculum design, and promoting independent living.

  • Skills: Adaptive behavior training, individualized instruction, vocational training methods.
  • Career Growth: Special education teacher in inclusive settings, life skills coach, vocational trainer.

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Top Colleges Offering Diploma in Special Education in India

Institute Name

Location

Specialization

National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD)

Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Visual Impairment

National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID)

Secunderabad, Telangana

Intellectual Disabilities

Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD)

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Hearing Impairment

Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) Approved Institutes

Multiple cities across India

Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Learning Disabilities

Amity Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences

Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities

SNDT Women’s University

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Institute of Health Sciences (IHS)

Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Hearing Impairment

National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH)

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Hearing Impairment

JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing

Mysore, Karnataka

Speech and Hearing Disabilities

Holy Cross College of Special Education

Trichy, Tamil Nadu

Visual Impairment

Apart from these institutes, some other prominent institutes offer the Diploma in Special Education with different specializations, candidates can keep checking this page for the latest information on the same.

Diploma in Special Education - Admission Process and Eligibility Criteria

The admission process for the Diploma in Special Education typically involves:

  1. Eligibility Criteria: The minimum eligibility criteria required to fill the online application form is 10+2 from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks. Some institutions may have additional criteria like a background in psychology or education.
  2. Entrance Test: Many institutes even ask candidates to qualify in the entrance exam, these tests assess basic teaching aptitude, understanding of child development, and reasoning skills.
  3. Admission Process: Based on the marks scored by candidates in the entrance test score or merit (12th-grade marks), students will be shortlisted for counseling or interviews.

Diploma in Special Education - Curriculum and Subjects Covered

The curriculum is designed to offer both theoretical knowledge and hands-on training. Key subjects include:

  • Introduction to Special Education
  • Child Development and Psychology
  • Inclusive Education Strategies
  • Teaching Methodologies for Special Education
  • Assessment and Evaluation Techniques
  • Assistive Technology in Special Education
  • Language and Communication Development

The course also includes practical sessions, workshops, and internships in special education schools or centers.

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Diploma in Special Education - Career Growth and Job Roles

After gaining the Diploma in Special Education degree ample job opportunities open up for candidates in both the public and private sectors. Popular job roles include:

  • Special Education Teacher: Teaching in special education schools or centers.
  • Resource Teacher: Supporting students with special needs.
  • Educational Therapist: Offering remedial education and therapy to specially-abled children.
  • Counselor: Guiding parents and children on educational and behavioral strategies.
  • NGO Worker: Working in organizations for the betterment of specially-abled students.

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Diploma in Special Education - Salary

The starting salary for a diploma in the field of special education ranges from INR 3 to 6 lakhs per annum, depending on specialization, job location, skills, and experience. The salaries can increase depending on urban areas or international schools.

Bottomline

After completing this course, students will get both theoretical knowledge and practical exposure, ensuring that they can implement inclusive education strategies and adapt their teaching methodologies to cater to children with different learning challenges. Whether you're passionate about helping children with autism, visual impairment, or learning disabilities, this Diploma in Special Education will open up rewarding career opportunities in the field of education and therapy. It is not just a professional course; it’s a path to making a real impact in the lives of children with special needs.

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About the Author
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Vikrant Shukla
Deputy Manager

With over 7 years of experience in the digital content arena, Vikrant specializes in creating unique content specific to the Media, Journalism, Film and TV stream for Shiksha. He writes articles and news covering th... Read Full Bio