Special Educator
Trained to teach children with disabilities in ways that address each child's individual abilities and needs.
Overview
Special Educators are trained in communication with children with disabilities in a way that addresses the child's individual abilities and needs. They provide learning assistance to students with mental, emotional, or physical disorders by evaluating each student's progress and making reports for each of them.
Where they work
- Government and Private Schools
- Special Centres and Institutes
- Non-governmental Organisations
- Special Education Teachers in B.Ed. Colleges
- Rehabilitation Centres
- Hospitals for Children with Special Needs
Work environment
As a Special Educator, you have to interact with the children and the staff in the organisation. Organisations usually work for 5 to 6 days a week and 8 to 9 hours everyday. This may vary from organisation to organization. Shift system may be available. Overtime may be required.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to teach others
- You have strong communication skills
- You pay attention to details
- You like to help others
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in any subject followed by a Bachelor's of Education (B.Ed.) in Special Education
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree in any subject followed by Bachelor's of Education (B.Ed.) in Special Education and follow it up with Master's of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete Diploma in Education (D.Ed.) Special Education programme from an institute
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Education/Special Education.
Government institutes
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), New Delhi
- Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi
- Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru, Karnataka
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, Maharashtra
- Punjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Indian Institute of Health Education and Research, Patna, Bihar
- Sanskriti University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
- Israji Devi Shikshan Sansthan, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
- Ashray Trust Centre for Rehabilitation, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- SGT University (Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University), Gurugram, Haryana
- Manav Rachna University (MRU), Faridabad, Haryana
- ICFAI University, Agartala, Tripura
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Assistant Counsellor
- 2Counsellor
- 3Head of Counselling Department
- 4Member of School Senior Leadership Team/Vice Principal
- 5Principal
Related careers to explore
School Teacher
Guides and nurtures children in schools, teaching academic and practical knowledge.
School Counsellor
Provides academic, career and social-emotional guidance to students through a school counselling programme.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Dr. Mithu Alur — The founder chairperson of The Spastic Society of India – now rechristened ADAPT – Able Disabled All People Together. She is an educator, disability rights activist, researcher, writer and published author on issues concerning people with disability in India. Alur is a pioneer in the care and education of people with Neuromuscular and Developmental Disabilities, like Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disabilities. After her daughter Malini Chib was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, she realised that the care of people with conditions like her daughter was non-existent in India. Hence she trained in England and started the Spastics Society of India (SSI) in 1972. Today independent Spastic societies exist in 16 states in India with outreach to many rural areas as well.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 297 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3XDz7DD
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.