There are a lot of professions in the world whose goal is to help people. One of them is defectology. This specialty can be called unique in its own way, because it combines elements of several sciences: pedagogy, medicine, psychology and sociology. A defectologist works with children with mental or physical developmental disabilities. It fulfills an important social mission - it helps young patients socialize and adapt to society, giving them a chance to live a full life. The profession of a defectologist is becoming more and more in demand every year, so many people are wondering where and how they can acquire this specialty.
What is defectology?
The essence of this term consists of the interpretation of its constituent elements. The concept of “defectology” was formed by merging two words:
- defectus, which in Latin means “absence” or “lack”;
- logos is a Greek word literally translated as “teaching,” “word,” or “thought.”
Defectology is a scientific discipline whose main goal is to study the psychophysical characteristics of the development of people (primarily children) with mental or physical disabilities. This is a system of theoretical and practical targeted training, education and socialization of persons with developmental delays.
How is a defectologist different from a speech therapist?
These professions have a number of similar characteristics, but at the same time differ significantly from each other. First of all, the difference between a speech therapist and a defectologist lies in the nature of the problems facing specialists, as well as in the methods for resolving them.
A defectologist provides assistance to people with psychophysiological developmental characteristics. As a rule, the main patients are children. Defectology as a whole covers a wide field of activity. Correcting speech disorders is only one of the areas of a specialist’s work.
A speech therapist works with healthy children who have problems pronouncing certain sounds, diction, etc. His help comes down to correcting individual speech development disorders in patients who do not have additional pathologies of psychophysical development.
The next difference between a defectologist and a speech therapist is that the former can begin working with patients as young as one year old, aiming to overcome developmental delays. A speech therapist works with children aged 3 years and older, because before this age children’s speech is not sufficiently developed, and it is impossible to understand whether adjustments are required. This specialist creates the conditions for the child to successfully master reading and writing.
JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A DEFECTIVE DEFECTIVE TEACHER (Speech Pathologist)
Note. The job title “Speech therapist” is not used in educational institutions, but is used in health care and social service institutions.
I. General provisions
1. This job description was developed in accordance with the Unified Qualification Directory of Positions of Managers, Specialists and Employees (section “Qualification Characteristics of Positions of Education Workers”), approved by Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation dated August 26, 2010 N 761n (as amended on May 31, 2011) and defines the job descriptions duties, rights and responsibilities of a teacher-defectologist.
2. Persons who have the necessary qualifications that meet the requirements of the qualification characteristics for the position and who do not have medical contraindications are accepted for teaching work.
The following persons are not allowed to engage in teaching activities:
- deprived of the right to engage in teaching activities in accordance with a court verdict that has entered into legal force;
- having or having had a criminal record for crimes, the composition and types of which are established by the legislation of the Russian Federation;
- recognized as legally incompetent in accordance with the procedure established by federal law;
- having diseases included in the established list.
3. A person with a higher professional education in the field of defectology is appointed to the position of a teacher-defectologist without presenting requirements for work experience.
4. A teacher-defectologist must know the priority directions for the development of the educational system of the Russian Federation; laws and other regulatory legal acts regulating educational, physical education and sports activities; Convention on the Rights of the Child; developmental and special pedagogy and psychology; anatomical, physiological and clinical foundations of defectology; methods and techniques for preventing and correcting deviations in the development of students and pupils; normative and methodological documents on issues of professional and practical activity; program and methodological literature on working with students and pupils with developmental disabilities; the latest achievements of defectological and pedagogical sciences; labor protection and fire safety regulations; theory and methods of managing educational systems; modern pedagogical technologies for productive, differentiated, developmental education, implementation of a competency-based approach; methods of persuasion, argumentation of one’s position, establishing contacts with students, pupils of different ages, their parents (persons replacing them), work colleagues; technologies for diagnosing the causes of conflict situations, their prevention and resolution; fundamentals of ecology, economics, sociology; labor legislation; basics of working with text editors, spreadsheets, email and browsers, multimedia equipment; internal labor regulations of an educational institution; labor protection and fire safety rules.
5. A teacher-defectologist is appointed to the position and dismissed from the position by order of the head of the educational institution in accordance with the current legislation of the Russian Federation.
6. A teacher-defectologist reports directly to the head of the educational institution or his deputy.
7. Labor relations between an employee and an educational institution are regulated by an employment agreement (contract), the terms of which must not contradict the labor legislation of the Russian Federation.
II. Job responsibilities
Carries out work aimed at maximizing the correction of developmental deficiencies in students, pupils with developmental disorders, including those in special (correctional) educational institutions created for students, pupils with disabilities (for the deaf, hard of hearing and late-deafened, blind, visually impaired and late-blind children, children with severe speech impairments, musculoskeletal disorders, mental retardation, mentally retarded and other children with disabilities). Conducts examinations of students and pupils, determines the structure and severity of their developmental disorders. Completes groups for classes, taking into account the psychophysical state of students and pupils. Conducts group and individual classes to correct developmental deficiencies and restore impaired functions. Works closely with teachers, educators and other educational staff, attends classes and lessons. Consults teaching staff and parents (persons replacing them) on the use of special methods and techniques to assist children with disabilities. Maintains necessary documentation. Promotes the formation of a general personal culture, socialization, informed choice and mastery of professional programs. Implements educational programs. Completes groups for classes, taking into account the psychophysical state of students and pupils. Studies the individual characteristics, abilities, interests and inclinations of students and pupils in order to create conditions to ensure their development in accordance with the age norm, the growth of their cognitive motivation and the formation of educational independence, the formation of competencies, using a variety of forms, techniques, methods and means of teaching, modern educational technologies, including information and digital educational resources, ensuring the level of training of students and pupils that meets the requirements of the federal state educational standard, federal state requirements. Conducts training sessions based on achievements in the field of methodological, pedagogical and psychological sciences, developmental psychology and school hygiene, as well as modern information technologies. Respects the rights and freedoms of students and pupils, ensures the protection of the life and health of students and pupils during the educational process. Participates in the work of pedagogical, methodological councils, other forms of methodological work, in the work of holding parent meetings, recreational, educational and other events provided for by the educational program, in organizing and conducting methodological and advisory assistance to parents (persons replacing them). Complies with labor protection and fire safety regulations.
III. Rights
A teacher-defectologist has the right:
— participate in the management of an educational institution in the manner determined by the charter of this institution;
— in accordance with current regulations, independently select and use teaching and educational methods, textbooks, teaching aids and materials, methods for assessing students’ knowledge;
— improve your qualifications in institutions of higher professional education and in institutions of the retraining and advanced training system;
— be certified on a voluntary basis for the appropriate qualification category and receive it in case of successful certification;
- have a shortened working week and extended paid leave;
— receive pensions for long service, social guarantees and benefits in the manner established by the legislation of the Russian Federation;
- have additional benefits provided in the region to teaching staff of general education institutions.
A teacher-defectologist enjoys all labor rights in accordance with the Labor Code of the Russian Federation.
IV. Responsibility
The teacher-defectologist is responsible for:
— timely and high-quality implementation of his official duties;
— organization of its work, timely and qualified execution of orders, instructions and instructions from management, regulations on its activities;
— compliance with internal regulations, fire safety and safety regulations;
— timely and high-quality execution of service documentation provided for by current regulatory documents;
— provision in the prescribed manner of statistical and other information on its activities;
— promptly taking measures, including timely informing management, to eliminate violations of safety regulations, fire safety and sanitary rules that pose a threat to the activities of the educational institution, its employees and students.
For violation of labor discipline, legislative and regulatory acts, a teacher-defectologist may be brought to disciplinary, material, administrative and criminal liability in accordance with current legislation, depending on the severity of the offense.
What qualities should a defectologist have?
To achieve success in the profession, a specialist needs:
- Competent and correct speech.
- Good memory.
- Developed organizational skills.
- Good intuition. This quality is required to select the adjustment technique that is best suited for the patient, because each child is unique.
- Observation and attentiveness. This will help the specialist establish emotional contact with the child, identify the specifics and patterns of his behavior, and developmental features.
- Communication skills. A defectologist must find an approach to each of his patients, be able to bring the little patient into conversation, “talk” him.
- Emotional stability and patience. A strong nervous system is one of the key requirements for a speech pathologist. It is necessary to understand that the process of correcting the psychophysical deviations of patients takes a lot of time and effort.
- Responsiveness. To work as a defectologist, you must have a sincere desire to help people and show concern for other people’s troubles.
- Tact. The specialist must be as polite as possible when communicating with children and their parents. Unflattering statements, rude phrases, etc. should be strictly avoided.
A defectologist must be able to identify specific psychophysical deviations of his young patients, find methods of correction, and conduct comprehensive classes to compensate for developmental defects. The specialist must be able to overcome the age barrier between himself and the child. A defectologist needs to be able to gain trust and become a true friend to the patient.
“About yourself” paragraph in your resume
An important component of the resume is the psychological portrait of the individual.
A defectologist is a humane but complex profession that requires special qualities from a person: kindness, patience, balance, responsibility, love for children. The work of a teacher-defectologist is associated not only with the correction of speech disorders, but also with the education, rehabilitation, and adaptation of patients in society. For university graduates without work experience, it is worth adding qualities such as quick learning and determination to the application form.
How to fill out the about yourself section:
- Responsible, sociable, I quickly find a common language with children. Experience working with children with complex speech defects. First category specialist. I constantly improve my professional level.
Also, this information block can include skills and hobbies that are not directly related to the work of a defectologist, but characterize the individual as an active and versatile person. For example, sports, creativity, intellectual games, etc.
