How to become an instructor of persons with disabilities
Official title: Instructors of persons with disabilities
Also called: Braille instructor, Lip-reading instructor, Sign language instructor, Teacher for persons with autism, Teacher of persons who are deaf, Teacher of persons who are blind, Instructor of persons who are deaf, Instructor of persons who are blind, Orientation and mobility instructor, Instructor of persons with disabilities, Job coach for persons with disabilities, Instructor of persons with special needs
Instructors of persons with disabilities teach children and adults using a variety of techniques to facilitate communication, rehabilitation, social skills and increased independence. They are employed in rehabilitation centres, specialized educational institutes and throughout the school system.
Main tasks
- 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
How to become one
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.
Ways in
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 66% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Special education and teaching; Clinical, counselling and applied psychology; Education, general.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $58,500 a year The middle half earn $50,057 to $66,300.
- About 7,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 7,500 are projected by 2033. (+5.6%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Paralegals and related occupations
- Social and community service workers
- Early childhood educators and assistants
- Religion workers
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Questions people ask
How do I become an instructor of persons with disabilities?
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.
How much does an instructor of persons with disabilities earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $58,500 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $50,057 to $66,300.
Is an instructor of persons with disabilities a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2033, from about 7,100 to about 7,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an instructor of persons with disabilities?
Not always. 25% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03