Career with disabled children

[brightness]

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I am interested in working with mentally disabled children- autism, asperger's, down sydrome, ect. I don't know what field to go into, however. I have considered psychology and occupational therapy...I am very dedicated to this goal, but I can't figure out what the best way to get into it would be. Does anybody have ideas?

 

[Grue1some]

Yea I got one

Take Psyc Courses in Undergraduate and go to occupational therapy school =). Why do you need a degree in psychology when you can use what you learned from undergraduate in occupational therapy school (Teaching and Instructing someone to do fine motor skills like trying a shoe or combing hair. Get a degree that you will actually use =]. I know people with psyc degrees that really arent doing anything in psycology.

So take elective courses in Human Development, Abnormal Psyc, etc

 

[brightness]

My undergrad major is in psychology and the school I go to doesn't have occupational therapy. So, I intend to get this degree in psych for now, and I've been thinking of doing my masters in occupational therapy. I just wasn't sure, really, where you get into working with children that have developmental diseases/disabilities. I know thats what I want to do.

 

[Grue1some]

Find a childrens hospital and work/volunteer/observe with the occupational therapist there or volunteer at an "Exeptional school for mentally challenged kids". If no luck then do a regular hospital =\.

 

[brightness]

Thank you for the advice. I am lucky in that there is a large school for mentally challenged kids/adults, functioning at all different levels. I bet I could volunteer there with the occupational therapy department and see how I feel about a career in OT.

Find a childrens hospital and work/volunteer/observe with the occupational therapist there or volunteer at an "Exeptional school for mentally challenged kids". If no luck then do a regular hospital =\.