The Diploma in Elementary Education in Special Education is a two-year NCTE-approved programme offered in two specialisations: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and Hearing Impairment (HI). Both specialisations prepare candidates to deliver elementary-level education to children with specific disabilities, integrating foundational pedagogical principles with targeted knowledge of each disability area. The IDD specialisation trains educators in functional academics, life skills curriculum, developmental assessment, behaviour support planning, and activity-based instruction for children with varied cognitive profiles. The HI specialisation covers Indian Sign Language (ISL), audiogram orientation, lip-reading, speech and language development, and adapted communication strategies for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Under the Samagra Shiksha framework and NEP 2020’s inclusion mandates, the demand for trained special educators at the primary level has grown substantially, reflecting the significant gap in qualified personnel at this stage. Graduates are eligible for positions as special educators in government and private special schools, resource rooms within inclusive mainstream schools, early intervention programmes, and residential care settings. The diploma also serves as a qualifying foundation for progression to B.Ed. Special Education.