Why I Decided to Receive a Students With Disabilities Certification
I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a career in the field of education; I have always had the desire to help others in some way. When it came time to decide on universities and majors, I knew undoubtedly that I wanted to major in education. I ultimately decided to attend the university I did because they offered a dual certification. The education program they offered with the dual certification would include a general certification (for example: Kindergarten through sixth grade) in addition to the special education certificate. This was a huge selling point for me.
I knew special education would be highly rewarding and an area I was interested in specializing in. As such, I also anticipated it may help me in becoming more knowledgeable and effective in the field. I ultimately did in fact attend the university previously mentioned, receiving both certifications as well as an additional certificate in the content area of language arts for grades five through eight. I am grateful that I decided to receive the students with disabilities certification and have been working with special needs ever since, which has been extremely rewarding and fulfilling to me.
How This Certification Has Helped in My Career
Throughout my career, I have held various teaching roles. For instance, I have taught preschool through eighth grade. Within those grade levels, I have taught in a myriad of different settings. Settings I have taught include accelerated classes, inclusion class, general education classes, behavioral classes, resource classes, multiply disabled (MD) classes and self-contained learning disabled (SCLD) classes.
Equipped to Best Support Students
In each of those roles, my special education certification has prepared me and equipped me to best support students in each setting. The training from receiving the certification gave me the understanding of different student needs as well as various strategies to enhance learning for each student. I feel that with having the certification, I was often viewed as someone “qualified” to work in various settings. As such, I am grateful to have experienced such a variety of grade levels and assignments. Throughout the years, in addition to striving to be as effective for students as possible, I also tried to share the understanding and knowledge I had gained with colleagues, including teachers and paraprofessionals.
Often, there were multiple paraprofessionals in the classrooms with me. I worked as closely with them as possible to be as effective as possible for students. The certification allowed me to share some of the knowledge and best practices I had received during training for the certification. Additionally, I feel it helped me communicate with families and parents. I felt knowledgeable and comfortable in sharing information with them as well as sharing strategies I could use with their support at home.
Currently, I am a principal at a private, nonprofit school for students with disabilities. Even in my current role, I can apply what I have learned to be most effective for our students and staff in this specialized setting. Further, I strive to make connections with families and the community, bringing awareness, understanding, and fostering partnerships with the goal of improving the lives of each student we serve.
Why I Would Recommend This Certification to Other Educators
I recommend this certification to other educators because it is infinitely valuable. This certification provides insight and knowledge in understanding various learners and their needs. It can only be helpful; not hurtful. Even if the educator is not interested in a special needs class, it will help learners in a general education setting who may struggle and or have a 504 plan. Additionally, tools and strategies gained from the program to receive the certificate can be applied to general education settings, all students can benefit.
Further, completing a program to receive the certification brings more understanding and awareness of various students’ needs and how to modify and accommodate for students to maximize learning most effectively. When you have a better understanding of different types of learners, you are more likely to be effective; you are likely to have more strategies (“tools”) in your toolbelt to try with the student(s) to be most effective. Oftentimes, general education teachers struggle with different types of learners (for example: a student with ADHD) because they do not have the students with disabilities certification. The more educators there are who receive this certification, the more effective we can be in the field of education.
The students with disabilities certification equips you with more in-depth training, understanding, strategies and best practices for all types of learners. The more educators with the certification, the more the knowledge will be shared with parents as well as colleagues, thus having a larger positive impact for our students. are more likely to be more effective and to share the knowledge.
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