Teacher-defectologist: features, pros and cons, necessary knowledge

Each parent dreams of a healthy and successful child, able to conquer any height. Sometimes, to achieve this goal, the baby needs qualified help, which the teacher-defectologist is ready to provide.

In modern living conditions, a defectologist is a very popular profession, because every year there are more and more children with developmental disabilities. Despite this, many parents are wary of this specialist, referring the scope of his activities exclusively to working with mentally retarded children.

Today the defectologist is specialist involved in the study and identification of children with difficulties in development and behavior, as well as the education and socialization of children with disabilities.

A specialist in this industry has knowledge in medicine and pedagogy, including in his activities the tasks of the following professions:

• speech therapist;
• sign teacher;
• oligophrenic educator;
• typhlopedologist.

The profession of speech therapist in the field of the pathologist is working with children with speech impairment, pronunciation errors. Deaf education and typhlopedagogy are affected by a defectologist in developing activities with hearing impaired children and children with visual impairments. Oligophrenopedagogy is aimed at working with children with various degrees of mental development.

Specialist tasks algorithm:

• diagnosing a problem specific child at the request of the teacher or teacher;
• identification of adverse outcomes situations of untimely assistance;
• individual or group program on adjusting behavior and development;
• conducting in accordance with the program of classes individual or group orientation;
• dynamic monitoring of progress and the results of remedial activities;
• work and consultations with teachers and parents of the child.

The specifics of the work of this specialist does not include teaching children arithmetic, reading or writing.

Thus, the development of spatial thinking, sensory and sensorimotor development, enrichment of vocabulary and the formation of ideas about objects and skills contribute to the elimination of problems in the educational process.

Narrow work related to the well-being and health of children will always be in demand and necessary. This is its main advantage, because a professional working in this industry can always find customers.

Other advantages are:

• high social significance of the profession - defectologists help children enter society and find their place in it;
• opportunity for professional growth and development - the study and work on various methods allows the teacher not to dwell on a specific learning model;
• short work day - as a rule, defectologists have several classes per day, taking 5-6 hours;
• extended vacation (for budget state organizations);
• private receptions - A line of customers who are ready to engage in extra hours is always lined up for good and competent specialists.

Despite the large number of advantages, this work has some disadvantages:

• high emotional workload - the teacher-defectologist must be not only a teacher, but also a friend who can find a common language with any child who has any deviations;
• low salary in state budgetary institutions;
• the inability to develop an optimal and effective programcapable of influencing each child, in any given situation there should be its own program, which has to be constantly adjusted in the way of implementation;
• high competition - As a rule, defectologists are able to work effectively at any age, and therefore it is difficult for young specialists to find their place.

Summarizing the foregoing, it is safe to say that the position of a defectologist teacher is interesting and significant, but it requires high returns and emotional stress.

A specialist in the field of defectology is a highly educated person who has a large store of knowledge in his arsenal and is able to apply it.

The defectologist must have perfect knowledge of:

• age and special pedagogy and psychology;
• anatomical and physiological defectology;
• methods and techniques for correcting deviations in behavior and development;
• the latest technologies and techniques for working with children with developmental disabilities.

In addition to knowledge, the teacher must have the skills:

• projection and planning of the workflow, taking into account the existing and acquired knowledge and skills of the child;
• development of individual programs aimed at a specific child;
• application of various methods and technologies in teaching children;
• assistance and consultation with teachers and parents.

The defectologist works with children, and therefore special attention is paid to his personal qualities. So, in a teacher-defectologist are valued:

• optimism;
• high efficiency;
• empathy;
• stress resistance;
• high level of organizational skills;
• love for children;
• ability to make quick decisions.

Thus, a defectologist must be a person who loves children and wants to help them, able to change in accordance with a specific situation and develop in this area.

The teacher of defectology should be trained in the specialties of “Special Preschool Education” or “Correctional Pedagogy in Primary Education”. Usually, you can get it in secondary vocational education institutions. Higher education institutions also provide training in this industry, allowing students to delve into highly specialized areas, whether it is a sound pedagogy, typhlopedagogy, oligophrenopedagogy or speech therapy.

In addition, there are a number of training courses for advanced training, acquaintance with new methods and technologies.

Today, private and public kindergartens and schools, special institutions, orphanages and boarding schools, as well as rehabilitation centers, need specialist defectologists. In addition, private home practice is widespread in this industry.