Instructors of persons with disabilities
Career Overview
Instructors and teachers of persons with disabilities:
- Teach children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities communication techniques, such as Braille or sign language
- Teach rehabilitation skills to increase independence and social skills
- Work in rehabilitation centres, specialized educational institutes and throughout the elementary and secondary school system
Job Titles
Duties
Instructors and teachers of persons with disabilities perform some or all of the following duties:
- Develop individualized education and intervention plans based on special needs of client to facilitate their readaptation and independence objectives
- Assess individuals in areas such as physical limitations, orientation and mobility skills, and cognitive, social and emotional barriers to establish client rehabilitation or adaptation goals
- Assist individuals with physical, intellectual, visual and hearing disabilities or multiple disorders to develop life skills and provide job training
- Instruct individuals with disabilities and their families in the use of rehabilitative techniques, prosthetic devices, wheelchairs and other equipment designed to maximize clients' independence and potential
- Instruct persons with a visual impairment in reading and writing braille and in the use of special equipment or supports such as human or animal guides, long canes and other adaptive mobility devices
- Instruct persons who are hard of hearing or deaf in lip-reading, finger spelling and sign language according to individual communication needs
- Instruct persons who are hard of hearing or deaf in the formation and development of sounds for speech using hearing aids, and other devices and techniques
- Collaborate with specialists, such as rehabilitation counsellors, speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, to develop programs for clients' special needs
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,735% Employed Full Time
22%Work takes place in a conventional indoor office setting.
Career Pathways
Career path information is currently not available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of a college program in special education, rehabilitation, orientation and mobility, visual impairment, hearing impairment or intellectual disability is required
- A bachelor's degree in special education or a related field such as social work or psychology may be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Teacher Assistant/Aide
- Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Teaching others how to do something.
Choosing and using training, instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,735Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 65 | 3.7% |
| Kootenay | 35 | 2.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,235 | 71.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 45 | 2.6% |
| Northeast | 15 | 0.9% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 155 | 8.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 180 | 10.3% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
660Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.6% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 0.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 480 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.1% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 80 | 1.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 1.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 420 |
| Educational Services | 210 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 10 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
