Special education (also known as special needs education, aided education) is the practice of educating children with special educational needs in a way that addresses their individual differences and needs.
Special education teachers work with children and youth who have a variety of disabilities. Special education teachers instruct students at the elementary, middle, and secondary school level, and also work with infants and toddlers. The majority of special education teachers work with children with mild to moderate disabilities by modifying the general education curriculum to meet the child's individual needs. They customize and individualize their programs so that they address the unique combination of needs in a given child. Special educators provide a continuum of services, in which children with special needs receive varying degrees of support based on their individual needs.
This process involves individual planning and systematic monitoring and arrangement of teaching procedures, using adapted equipment and materials, and making learning possible in accessible settings. These interventions are designed to help children with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in learning centers such as nurseries, schools and in their community.
