Children with Special Needs (SC)
Program Overview:
Specialized Training for Your Special Needs Classroom
Individual education plans, a variety of challenges, both developmental and physical, and an absolutely rewarding career awaits if you choose to pursue the special education path. Your way with words and calming presence often soothes those around you and you have a strong desire to help all students succeed. By working with special needs children, you’re embarking on an ever-changing journey and you’re the anchor. All children are exceptional and you want your classroom to shine.
The Children with Special Needs Skill Certificate will provide you with anti-bias training and self-reflection training so you’re better prepared to step into a special education classroom. You can apply the Skill Certificate into your teaching goals, or use the knowledge in a number of careers that work with individuals with specialized needs.
| Contact |
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| Dean/Chairperson Dr. La Shawn Brinson |
| Phone (323) 241-5023 |
| Email |
| Office Location Child Development Center, Room 210 |
| Office Hours Mondays to Fridays: 8:00AM - 4:30PM |
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Department |
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Pathway |
Careers Working with Children with Special Needs
It takes a special person to work with special needs children. Working with children with special needs requires patience, understanding of each child’s individual needs, and a calm demeanor in the midst of chaos.
Here are some possible occupations you could have with a Children with Special Needs Skill Certificate:
Career information below is taken from bls.gov in November 2019. Go to bls.gov for most current career information.
Work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
National data
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $59,780/year | $28.74/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 3% increase (slower than average) | 437,200 |
Educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | $38,190/year | $18.36/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 5% increase&(as fast as average) | 17,040 |
Treat patients who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.
National data
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $84,270/year | $40.51/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 18% increase (much faster than average) | 133,000 |
Work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Some college | $36,460/year | N/A |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 5% increase (as fast as average) | 52,700 |
What You’ll Learn at LASC in the Children with Special Needs Skills Certificate
With your Children with Special Needs Skill Certificate, you’ll be equipped to work with children with special needs and their families. You may want to apply the skills you’ve learned to a career as a special education teacher, teaching assistant, or further your education to work in occupational therapy or speech-language pathology. This certificate will:
- Expand your knowledge of what social identity development is in diverse societies so you are aware of cultural situations, as well as your own cultural norms so you make appropriate decisions for the children and their families you are working with.
- Discover tools you can use to accommodate and adapt to environments and curriculum that meet the needs of differently-abled children, so every child can gain educational experiences appropriate for their situation.
- Learn the core professional standards to working in an environment with children and their families, as well as develop strategies and techniques for building sensitive and respectful family relationships to make a positive impact on your community at large.
- Want to get a bachelor’s degree? If you haven’t received your associate degree, LASC offers associate degrees in Child Development, as well as an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education for Transfer degree. You will save money on your first two years of college learning from resourceful faculty before you transfer to a four-year college or university. You can even receive a guaranteed transfer into a CSU, and some UCs! Visit your academic counselor to find out more.
Degrees & Courses You Will Take
Review LASC’s Skill Certificate in Children with Special Needs and our suggested course of study for this program. Go to LASC’s current Course Catalog for specific course information:
Major Code: 1305.13
Total Units Required: 15
Upon completion of this program, you should be able to:
| Required Courses: | Units |
|---|---|
| CH DEV 1 Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| CH DEV 11 Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| CH DEV 42 Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| CH DEV 44 Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| CH DEV 45 Programs for Children with Needs | 3 |
| CH DEV 48 Positive Guidance in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| TOTAL UNITS | 18 |
Get Ready Before You Start
Interested in a career in special education? Before your first class starts at LASC, you can start preparing for your early childhood education career:
- Make an appointment with your LASC academic counselor to review LASC’s program, develop a Student Education Plan (SEP), and discuss your career goals to see if transferring to a four-year college or university may be beneficial for what you want to do in the future.
- Still in high school? Contact local childcare and daycare centers, elementary schools, and preschools to see if you could observe for an afternoon to watch special needs educators in action. Talk with your high school counselor to see if they can recommend any local opportunities that you could be a part of.
Grants
Make the most with your time at LASC, and gain career experience while meeting and working with others who want to further their knowledge and experience for a flourishing career in child development:
Child Development Teacher Grant – get money to help pay for your child development education so you can enter the field of childcare and development in a licensed children’s center. Program Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this certificate program, you should be able to:
- Integrate understanding of the needs, the characteristics and multiple influences on the development of children from birth to age eight as it relates to optimum growth and development.
- Create developmentally appropriate strategies, techniques, and curriculum incorporating domains of learning, health, safety, nutrition, as well as anti-bias and adaptation principles for working with typical and atypical developing children.
- Apply developmentally appropriate social-emotional learning strategies and positive guidance techniques in a professional early childhood setting.
- Evaluate and utilize various observation and assessment methods for measuring and recording children’s developmental progress.
- Compare and contrast the basic theories in child development, family studies, as well as historical perspectives of ECE programs.
- Uphold professional standards (based on NAEYC Code of Ethics) for job seeking, respecting, interacting, and communicating with others (parents, staff, children, community members, colleagues and peers).
- Demonstrate strategies and techniques for building a sensitive and respectful family and community relationships.
- Develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills for learning and promoting learning in young children.