Missouri has shortage of qualified teachers in special education

By Staff Writer

A high demand for special education teachers has prompted a Missouri-based college to add certificate programs that focus on helping children with autism.

According to the Neosho Daily News, the certification classes aim to prepare individuals to work in educational and agency settings, as well as those who wish to become a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. Both specialties require 19 hours of training and utitize Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which is the science of applying behavior principles to improve social improvement among patients.

Autism, which affects millions of children throughout the world, is a developmental disorder that inhibits an individual's cognitive functions, such as communicating, focusing and relating to an environment.

Jamie Emery, who is the coordinator of the certification programs, told the news provider that ABA is the only evidence-based treatment that achieves regular success among autistic kids. The program covers a variety of skills that are needed to work one-on-one with autistic children, including discrete trial training.

In addition, Emery told the media outlet that data entry - tracking a child's progress and crafting a treatment plan - is an important part of special education.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, boys are up to five times more likely than girls to have autism.