Top 12 Special Education Assistant Skills to Put on Your Resume
Landing a role as a Special Education Assistant takes a nimble mix of patience, communication, and technical know-how. Put those strengths front and center on your resume so hiring teams can quickly see how you support diverse learners and keep classrooms steady, safe, and engaging.
Special Education Assistant Skills
- Behavior Management
- IEP Familiarity
- Autism Spectrum Understanding
- Nonviolent Crisis Intervention
- Sign Language (ASL)
- PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
- Boardmaker Software
- Proloquo2Go Proficiency
- Sensory Integration Techniques
- First Aid/CPR Certified
- ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)
- Microsoft Office Suite
1. Behavior Management
Behavior management means shaping the environment and your responses so students learn pro-social skills, stay engaged, and feel safe. It’s the steady hand that prevents disruptions and the gentle nudge that builds independence.
Why It's Important
Strong behavior supports protect learning time, reduce stress, and open doors for academic and social growth. When students know what to expect and feel supported, everything else gets easier.
How to Improve Behavior Management Skills
Build skill on purpose, not by accident:
Build trust first: Warm rapport, consistent follow-through, and respectful communication set the tone.
Reinforce what you want: Catch students doing it right. Use praise, tokens, breaks, or privileges to strengthen desired behavior.
Make expectations obvious: Clear rules, simple routines, and visual schedules reduce guesswork and anxiety.
Individualize supports: Use ABC data and functional thinking to match strategies to the function of behavior.
De-escalate early: Learn calm voice, space, choices, and time-away strategies; training such as CPI helps.
Team up: Align with teachers, related service providers, and families so responses are consistent.
Keep learning: Seek ongoing training on PBIS, trauma-informed practice, and disability-specific approaches.
Small, steady shifts add up. The room feels different. Students notice.
How to Display Behavior Management Skills on Your Resume
2. IEP Familiarity
IEP familiarity is knowing how to read, follow, and contribute to Individualized Education Programs so each student’s goals, accommodations, services, and progress monitoring actually come to life in daily instruction.
Why It's Important
When you understand IEPs, you can deliver the right support at the right time, document progress accurately, and advocate for what each learner needs.
How to Improve IEP Familiarity Skills
Know the parts: Present levels, goals, services, accommodations vs. modifications, progress reporting, and timelines under IDEA.
Connect goals to practice: Map each goal to specific classroom tasks, prompts, and data sheets.
Protect confidentiality: Handle student information carefully and follow school procedures.
Track progress well: Use clear operational definitions, consistent probes, and simple charts so growth is visible.
Collaborate: Ask clarifying questions in team meetings; share observations that inform revisions.
Stay current: Keep up with district, state, and federal guidance; complete PD modules from reputable educator resources.
The better you know the IEP, the better you can help a student meet it.
How to Display IEP Familiarity Skills on Your Resume
3. Autism Spectrum Understanding
Autism Spectrum Understanding means recognizing different communication styles, sensory profiles, and learning preferences—and using that insight to reduce barriers and increase access.
Why It's Important
With the right supports, students on the spectrum thrive. Knowing what helps (and what hinders) changes the whole school day.
How to Improve Autism Spectrum Understanding Skills
Learn continuously: Study evidence-based practices, listen to autistic voices, and keep your curiosity switched on.
Communicate clearly: Use visuals, first/then boards, short directions, wait time, and consistent language.
Plan for sensory needs: Offer movement breaks, noise reduction, and predictable routines that lower overload.
Leverage strengths: Interests can power motivation and generalization. Build them into tasks.
Partner with families and specialists: Align strategies and share wins and hurdles.
Observe, adjust, repeat: Collect brief data, reflect, and tweak supports based on the student’s response.
Respect, patience, and structure—those three carry far.
How to Display Autism Spectrum Understanding Skills on Your Resume
4. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention is a framework for spotting early agitation, responding with calm, and keeping everyone safe before behavior escalates. It emphasizes dignity, de-escalation, and post-crisis learning.
Why It's Important
Safety first. These skills protect students and staff, preserve relationships, and reduce lost learning time.
How to Improve Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Skills
Know the crisis cycle: Recognize baseline, trigger, escalation, peak, de-escalation, and recovery.
Intervene early: Offer choices, reduce demands, adjust environment, and use supportive tone and body language.
Practice de-escalation: Calm voice, increased space, active listening, and simple, neutral phrasing.
Follow approved safety procedures: Learn district-approved disengagement strategies and when to seek help.
Debrief: After incidents, reflect with the student and team; update plans to prevent repeats.
Tend your own regulation: Breathing, grounding, and self-awareness keep your responses steady.
Keep training current: Participate in refreshers and workshops through recognized organizations such as CPI and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Prepared people stay calm; calm people keep classrooms safer.
How to Display Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Skills on Your Resume
5. Sign Language (ASL)
American Sign Language (ASL) is a rich, visual language with its own grammar, facial expressions, and movement. For some students, it opens the door to instruction, friendship, and independence.
Why It's Important
When you can sign, you remove barriers to access. You also model respect for Deaf culture and give students a direct line to learning.
How to Improve Sign Language (ASL) Skills
Practice daily: Short, frequent sessions build fluency—focus on school routines, content-area vocabulary, and fingerspelling accuracy.
Watch and mimic: Observe native signers; study facial grammar and pacing.
Learn in community: Take classes or workshops and join practice groups; feedback accelerates growth.
Immerse when possible: Attend Deaf events or partner with Deaf mentors and interpreters.
Create visuals: Post ASL charts and labels around the classroom to reinforce everyday signs.
Record and review: Video yourself signing to spot errors and track progress.
Consistency is everything. Your hands will catch up to your brain.
How to Display Sign Language (ASL) Skills on Your Resume
6. PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
PECS is an AAC approach where learners exchange pictures to communicate wants, needs, and ideas. It teaches initiation and builds toward sentence-level communication in a structured sequence.
Why It's Important
For minimally verbal students, PECS can cut through frustration and spark communication quickly, giving them a reliable voice.
How to Improve PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) Skills
Learn the phases: From Phase I (exchange) through advanced commenting, know the criteria to move forward.
Use powerful reinforcers: Choose motivating items and vary them to keep exchanges meaningful.
Prompt and fade: Model, guide, and then back off; build independence without overprompting.
Generalize: Teach across people, places, and materials so PECS works everywhere, not just at the table.
Organize the book: Clear categories, consistent icon placement, and sturdy construction matter.
Integrate with speech: Pair spoken words with exchanges to encourage vocalizations when appropriate.
Collect data: Track spontaneity, distance, and persistence so growth is visible.
Collaborate with the team: Align with SLPs, teachers, and families so everyone prompts the same way.
Keep it functional, fast, and student-led.
How to Display PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) Skills on Your Resume
7. Boardmaker Software
Boardmaker helps you create custom visual supports, communication boards, and structured tasks using robust symbol libraries and templates.
Why It's Important
Visuals make learning concrete. With Boardmaker, you can tailor supports to a student’s language level, sensory needs, and goals—fast.
How to Improve Boardmaker Software Skills
Master the basics: Learn symbol search, templates, and page setup to build materials quickly.
Design accessibly: High contrast, large fonts, clear spacing, and alt text on digital versions.
Standardize styles: Consistent colors, borders, and icon placement reduce cognitive load.
Create staples: Visual schedules, first/then boards, token boards, and choice arrays you can reuse and adapt.
Organize assets: Save by category and student; version materials as needs change.
Prepare for durability: Print, laminate, use Velcro or ring binders; plan for quick swaps.
Collaborate: Share files with teachers, SLPs, and OTs for aligned supports.
Update libraries: Add vocabulary tied to current units, routines, and student interests.
Clean design plus the right symbols equals instant clarity.
How to Display Boardmaker Software Skills on Your Resume
8. Proloquo2Go Proficiency
Proloquo2Go is a symbol-based AAC app with robust customization and text-to-speech. Proficiency means setting it up so communication is fast, consistent, and meaningful for the user.
Why It's Important
When an AAC system fits the student, language blooms. Classroom access, friendships, self-advocacy—everything improves.
How to Improve Proloquo2Go Proficiency Skills
Start with structure: Choose grid size and vocabulary sets that match motor abilities and language level.
Customize thoughtfully: Keep core words consistent; add fringe based on interests and curriculum.
Model constantly: Use Aided Language Input—tap the device while you speak to show where words live.
Speed matters: Arrange buttons for quick access; minimize navigation depth.
Back up and sync: Save user profiles and share securely with the team.
Train partners: Teach peers and staff how to wait, prompt, and respond to AAC.
Collaborate with the SLP: Align goals, collect usage data, and refine layouts over time.
Communication should never feel like a scavenger hunt—keep it predictable and quick.
How to Display Proloquo2Go Proficiency Skills on Your Resume
9. Sensory Integration Techniques
These are structured activities that help students process tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, and visual input so they can participate and learn.
Why It's Important
When sensory needs are met, focus improves, meltdowns shrink, and participation climbs. The classroom becomes more accessible.
How to Improve Sensory Integration Techniques Skills
Learn the profile: Identify seekers vs. avoiders; note triggers and calming inputs.
Adjust the environment: Reduce clutter, dampen noise, use flexible seating, and control lighting.
Plan sensory diets: Short, scheduled movement, heavy work, and calming activities embedded across the day.
Offer choice: Provide two or three regulating options so students can self-select.
Work with the OT: Align activities with therapeutic guidance and safety considerations.
Monitor and adapt: Track arousal levels and on-task behavior; tweak intensity, duration, and timing.
Right input, right moment—that’s the sweet spot.
How to Display Sensory Integration Techniques Skills on Your Resume
10. First Aid/CPR Certified
First Aid/CPR certification means you can respond quickly to medical emergencies—performing CPR, using an AED, and delivering basic care until help arrives.
Why It's Important
In special education settings, health needs vary. Being prepared protects students and buys precious time.
How to Improve First Aid/CPR Certified Skills
Keep certification current: Renew on schedule through recognized providers such as the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
Practice hands-on: Refresh compressions, rescue breaths, AED use, and choking response regularly.
Learn school-specific care: Seizure first aid, anaphylaxis and epinephrine auto-injectors, asthma inhalers and spacers, and basics of diabetes care per student health plans.
Run drills: Rehearse roles, call procedures, and emergency communication.
Debrief and document: After any incident, review what worked, update plans, and record accurately.
Confidence comes from repetition—muscle memory matters.
How to Display First Aid/CPR Certified Skills on Your Resume
11. ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)
ABA applies the science of behavior to teach skills and reduce barriers. It’s about defining behaviors clearly, shaping them with reinforcement, and measuring change.
Why It's Important
Evidence-based strategies give students practical tools for communication, academics, and self-management—especially helpful for learners on the autism spectrum.
How to Improve ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) Skills
Define and measure: Write observable, measurable behavior definitions; collect ABC and frequency/duration data.
Use the right teaching format: Discrete-trial instruction for precision; naturalistic teaching for generalization.
Reinforce smartly: Choose appropriate schedules, vary reinforcers, and thin gradually.
Prompt and fade: Follow a clear hierarchy and plan for independence from the start.
Generalize: Teach across settings, people, and materials; program for maintenance.
Partner with BCBAs: Align on protocols, graph data, and adjust based on trends.
Follow ethics: Adhere to BACB guidelines and practice with cultural humility and respect.
Good ABA feels natural, not mechanical—data-driven yet human.
How to Display ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) Skills on Your Resume
12. Microsoft Office Suite
Microsoft Office—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams—anchors planning, communication, data, and collaboration in schools.
Why It's Important
Accessible documents, clean data, and clear communication keep services coordinated and students supported.
How to Improve Microsoft Office Suite Skills
Build for accessibility: Use the Accessibility Checker, headings, alt text, high contrast, readable fonts, and meaningful link text in documents.
Leverage Word and Immersive Reader: Create scaffolded handouts with read-aloud and line focus for diverse readers.
Design clear slides: In PowerPoint, use large fonts, simple layouts, descriptive visuals, and captions on media.
Track progress in Excel: Create simple dashboards with tables, conditional formatting, and charts; protect sheets with student data.
Organize in OneNote: Keep lesson plans, visuals, audio notes, and student info in tidy sections; tag items for quick retrieval.
Collaborate in Teams and Outlook: Centralize files, schedule meetings, and message the team while managing permissions for privacy.
Keep learning: Explore Microsoft Learn courses and practice keyboard shortcuts to speed up daily tasks.
Clarity and privacy both matter—build with both in mind.
How to Display Microsoft Office Suite Skills on Your Resume
