Working with special needs students, and spending a good part of the day with them, allows a teacher the time to develop special relationships.
Doing right by the kids should be standard practice, but as in all professions there are some who are only there for the paycheck.
Early on, a supervisor compared teaching to acting.
At the time I didn't see how similar they really are.
As an actor, if your show doesn't hold the attention of the audience, they get up and walk out, or they just tune to another channel.

As a teacher, in most situations the audience will not walk out, but they will tune out.
A teacher needs to captivate his audience as well
A teacher needs to perform several shows every day.
A teacher will be on stage at least 180 days a year, and for the most part, the show will not be canceled.

God Bless your wife for performing a service that is underappreciated by many.