Instructors of persons with disabilities

This group performs 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

• 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.