职业描述：Instructors and Teachers of Disabled Persons (4215)

At Work
People in this occupation work in rehabilitation centres and elementary and high schools. Their duties may require them to:
Instruct students who are blind and visually impaired in reading and writing braille and in the use of special equipment;
Instruct students who are deaf and hearing-impaired in lip-reading, finger spelling and sign language;
Instruct students who are hearing-impaired in the formation and development of sounds for speech using hearing aids and other devices;
Instruct persons with physical disabilities and their families in the use of rehabilitative techniques, prosthetic devices, wheelchairs and other equipment; and
Assist individuals with physical or developmental disabilities to develop life skills.

Education, Training and Experience
People in this occupation usually require a bachelor's degree in education or a related field such as psychology or social work. In some instances, persons with a community college diploma and appropriate experience may work in this occupation.

They must complete an appropriate training program in rehabilitation or special education.
Instructors of the blind require certification by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Teachers who work in public schools require provincial teaching certificates.

About this Occupation
18,000 persons were employed in this occupation in 1996, an increase of 56.9% from 1986. Over the same period, employment in all occupations grew by 13.1%.

24% of these teachers work part-time, compared to an average of 19% for all occupations.
67% of these teachers are women, well above the average of 45% in all occupations.
The unemployment rate in this occupation averaged 4.4% from 1994 to 1996, compared to an average of 6.7% for all occupations. These rates are among the lowest for technical, paraprofessional and skilled occupations.
Average earnings of year-round, full-time workers in this occupation in 1995 were $43,500, well above the average of $35,700 for all occupations. These earnings are among the highest for technical, paraprofessional and skilled occupations.
Employment in this occupation is not very sensitive to overall economic conditions but is moderately seasonal.

Full-Time Earnings

1995 Full-Time Earnings*
$66,500 Highest
$43,500 Average
$20,600 Lowest

* Full-time earnings of the highest 10%, the average and the lowest 10% of workers. $35,700 is the average for all occupations.

Looking to the Year 2001
Current labour market conditions for new entrants in this occupation are fair. Labour market conditions for new entrants will remain fair through 2001.

There is increasing concern in society for persons with disabilities, but public funds are dwindling in a number of areas. Government cutbacks will limit opportunities in this occupation, perhaps to a lesser extent than for other social service workers.
Most of the increase in labour requirements through 2001 for this occupation will occur in the education and health and social services sectors.