Membership

The following are minimum standards for certification as a Special Educator:

• A relevant first degree in education, psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy
• Minimum of one year full-time study in an InSpEd approved special education course
• Practicum/intern experience in a relevant special education service.
• At least three years experience in a Special Education role.

The Special Education course completed by the applicant must have addressed the following areas:

• Assessment, individualised program planning and effective instruction based on the principles of applied behaviour analysis
• Initial assessment and on-going, regular monitoring of progress using curriculum-based assessment and other technically adequate monitoring tools
• Research-based instructional strategies, including those derived from applied behaviour analysis and direct, explicit and systematic instruction for both curriculum content and cognitive and meta-cognitive strategies, and including literacy and numeracy instruction
• Planning, documenting, monitoring, evaluating and adjusting individualised learning plans, including the setting of measurable goals and objectives
• Research-based strategies to address the needs of students with severe and multiple disabilities including communication and functional skills
• Collaboration and working with others, including families, teacher aides and other professionals
• Positive proactive and reactive approaches to behaviour management
• Management of transitions in the lives of people with disability, including into and between schools and into post-school settings
• Supporting others to implement quality special education practices through advising, co-teaching, modelling, coaching or providing professional learning
• Use of research to inform practice.