Is “Special Needs” Offensive or Politically Correct? Here’s What You Can Say Instead.

A little while back, I wrote a post about People First Language and why I don’t think it should be mandated, particularly by non-disabled people. At the end of that post, I said I was going to tackle the term “special needs,” because that language was changing too. And it has continued to change.

People still ask me all the time: Is special needs politically correct? Is special needs offensive? What is the politically correct term for special needs? What should I say instead? My answer has changed a little over the years, too.

Here’s where I am now: Both “special needs” and “disabled” can be acceptable terms if they are acceptable to the person you are describing.

I’m also way less interested in browbeating people over terminology than I used to be. Language matters. So does listening to people. But lecturing a parent because they said “special needs” when that is the terminology their family uses? I’m over it.

Is “Special Needs” Politically Correct?

There isn’t one universally accepted, politically correct term for special needs.

Many disabled people prefer the words “disabled” or “disability.” Some prefer person-first language, such as “person with a disability.” Others prefer identity-first language, such as “disabled person” or “autistic person.”

And some people still use and prefer “special needs.” If you know the person’s preference, use it.

Really…..it doesn’t have to be more complicated than that.

If you don’t know someone’s preference, “disabled” and “person with a disability” are widely used terms and there is no reason to be afraid of the word disability. And, there’s nothing wrong with asking them which they prefer.

But probably the biggest thing I want parents to take away from this discussion–Disability is not a dirty word.

Is “Special Needs” Offensive?

This is another question that doesn’t have a universal yes-or-no answer.

Some disabled people find the term special needs offensive, patronizing or unnecessary. Others don’t. Some families have used the term for decades and are comfortable with it.

That’s why I no longer think it’s particularly helpful to make blanket declarations that everyone must stop saying “special needs.”

I will always continue to call people what they prefer to be called.

And because I am not disabled, I’m not interested in telling a disabled adult that the terminology they use for themselves is wrong. That would be quite a choice.

Language changes. People have different preferences. We can handle both concepts at once.

What Is the Politically Correct Term for Special Needs?

There isn’t a new term for special needs that everyone is now required to use.

In many situations, the word you’re looking for is simply disabled or disability.

Depending on the context, you might say:

• disabled person
• person with a disability
• disabled student
• student with a disability
• special education student, when you are specifically talking about special education services

But again, the person’s preference matters.

This is also why I don’t love the whole idea of searching for the “PC term for special needs.” It makes it sound like there is a secret vocabulary list somewhere and we’re all going to get points deducted if we use the wrong word.

There isn’t, there are, however, good reasons to think about why we use certain words.

Special Needs vs. Disability

One reason I began questioning the term “special needs” years ago was because of something very simple: My son’s needs aren’t special.

He needs to communicate. He needs to eat. He needs an education, relationships, recreation, meaningful activities and access to his community.

Those aren’t special needs. They’re human needs. How he accesses those things may be different.

And that’s the distinction that makes the most sense to me now.

A person may need a wheelchair ramp to enter a building. They may need AAC to communicate. They may need captions, a screen reader, sensory accommodations, additional instruction or another type of support.

Their need to enter the building, communicate, learn or participate isn’t special. The way they access those things may require something different from what most people use.

That’s an important distinction because access is not a favor.

Why It’s OK to Say Disabled

For a long time, people avoided the words disabled and disability because they thought softer language sounded nicer.

But calling my son something else doesn’t make him less disabled.

And avoiding the word disability can unintentionally send the message that disability is something so terrible that we shouldn’t even say the word.

Jamie Davis Smith made this point when discussing the terminology she uses for her daughter:

“But my daughter cannot speak, so I have no way of knowing her preferences. Instead, I’m taking cues from advocates who are disabled themselves. And what I have learned is that it is not just okay but preferable in many cases to call a disability a disability and not trying to cover it up with softer language.”

That idea changed how I thought about this years ago.

Disability is a normal part of human diversity. Disabled people exist. Saying the word doesn’t create the disability, make it worse or insult someone simply by acknowledging it.

Lawrence Carter-Long, who founded the Disabled. Say the Word. movement, explained it this way:

“The language we use mirrors the ways we think.”

He goes on to describe embracing the word disabled as an act of self-determination and identity. But listening also means listening when an individual disabled person tells us they don’t want that terminology used for them.

We don’t get to preach “listen to disabled people” and then tell a disabled person they’re using the wrong word for themselves. That’s not how this works.

Why Some People Don’t Like the Term “Special Needs”

One criticism of the term is that disabled people’s needs aren’t actually special.

Disabled people need access to transportation, restaurants, theaters, schools, workplaces, medical care, recreation and everything else non-disabled people access.

Those are rights and ordinary human needs.

My son uses a wheelchair, and when the two of us are out, we sometimes have trouble with doors.

His need to enter the building isn’t special. He needs to get through the same door I do.

The difference is that the way he accesses that door may require an automatic opener, a ramp or another accessibility feature.

As Michelle Swan wrote in her essay My Needs Are Not Special:

“My needs are not special, they are just my needs, and I have the same right to have my needs met as any other person.”

That’s still one of the best explanations I’ve seen.

Calling something a “special need” can make an accommodation sound like an extra favor someone is providing rather than access a disabled person is entitled to.

What Should I Say Instead of Special Needs?

If you’re wondering what to use instead of special needs, start with the person.

If they tell you they prefer disabled, use disabled. If they prefer person with a disability, use that. If they identify as autistic rather than a person with autism, respect that. If they tell you they use special needs, I’m not going to swoop in and correct them.

If you’re speaking generally and don’t know individual preferences, “disabled people” and “people with disabilities” are both commonly used.

Context matters too.

If you’re talking specifically about IDEA, an IEP or eligibility for special education, terminology such as “child with a disability” or “student with a disability” may be more accurate than “special needs student.”

You don’t have to twist yourself into linguistic knots trying to avoid saying disability.

And please don’t replace it with something like “handi-capable.” Are you friggin kidding me?

Disabled people are capable people. We don’t need a cute euphemism to remind everyone of that.

Can You Still Say “Special Needs”?

Yes. And some people will dislike it. Both things can be true.

If a particular person asks you not to call them a person with special needs, don’t. If a person or family tells you that special needs is the terminology they prefer, I’m not interested in policing that either.

What I care about more is whether we’re listening to the person we’re talking about.

My own thinking on this has evolved quite a bit since I first wrote about this topic. I’m sure it will continue to evolve.

That’s what learning is supposed to do.

I used to be much more rigid about saying we should replace “special needs” with “disabled.” I still believe we should be comfortable saying disabled and disability, and I still think it’s worth examining why we sometimes reach for softer euphemisms.

But I don’t think people learn much when they’re being browbeaten.

I’ve been on the receiving end of emails lecturing me about person-first language, identity-first language, special needs and disability. Some have been thoughtful and taught me something.

Others? Not so much.

Language matters, but so does context. Intent matters. Most importantly, the person matters.

So if you’re worried about whether “special needs” is politically correct, learn why some people don’t like the term. Get comfortable saying disability. And when you know how someone describes themselves, follow their lead.

That’s where I am now.