its SPED a bad word now?

[Anonymous]

I am sorry for sounding dumb, I am sorry for saying that word, but my school is still saying it, but I just saw a 22 year old teacher on TIKTOK Saying that we should not use that word anymore.


What is the new word we should use? Is your school using it?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't refer to a kid as a "SPED kid", but if you are just using it as shorthand for special education, I think it is fine.

[Anonymous]

Students have used it as a slur for at least a few decades. I have worked in multiple school systems over many years and don't know any school staff that doesn't say it out "Special Ed", probably for that reason.

[Anonymous]

This is how the cycle goes. A word is used. People use the word as intended. Word develops a negative connotation because it refers to something that is, frankly, negative. People get offended. People find new word. New word is used as intended. Word develops a negative connotation because it refers to something that is, frankly, negative. People get offended. People find new word. And so on and so on and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't refer to a kid as a "SPED kid", but if you are just using it as shorthand for special education, I think it is fine.

to Shorthand it, but he said don't use the words "Special Education".

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is how the cycle goes. A word is used. People use the word as intended. Word develops a negative connotation because it refers to something that is, frankly, negative. People get offended. People find new word. New word is used as intended. Word develops a negative connotation because it refers to something that is, frankly, negative. People get offended. People find new word. And so on and so on and so on.

Pretty much.

[Anonymous]

My Autistic teenager doesn’t like it. My friends with disabilities who are disability rights activists don’t like it. My sister with chronic illness (now a disability) doesn’t like it.

I never saw an issue until they told me why. They said it’s demeaning - as are “inspirational” videos or stories about people with disabilities who do amazing (or not so amazing) things despite their disabilities. They say they want to be seen as people, as individuals, not “special.” That they are disabled because they are unable to do some things that have societal, social, or physical barriers their conditions make it difficult to overcome. We should just call it education. Everyone deserves an education. Some need accommodations to make that education accessible.

However, the IDEA calls it “special education” so until that changes, that is what it is formally going to be called in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Autistic teenager doesn’t like it. My friends with disabilities who are disability rights activists don’t like it. My sister with chronic illness (now a disability) doesn’t like it.

I never saw an issue until they told me why. They said it’s demeaning - as are “inspirational” videos or stories about people with disabilities who do amazing (or not so amazing) things despite their disabilities. They say they want to be seen as people, as individuals, not “special.” That they are disabled because they are unable to do some things that have societal, social, or physical barriers their conditions make it difficult to overcome. We should just call it education. Everyone deserves an education. Some need accommodations to make that education accessible.

However, the IDEA calls it “special education” so until that changes, that is what it is formally going to be called in schools.

I like "Adapted" myself. Same stuff, but tailored to fit those who fall outside of the middle on the bell curve.

[Anonymous]

SPED is generally considered to be rude, especially when applied to a person ("SPED kid"), "special education" is still sometimes used but could be rude depending on context. For whatever reason, disabilities and neurodivergency are affected by an unusually fast euphemism treadmill. It seems every decade or so whatever new term is used is adopted by the cruelest kids as a new insult.

[Anonymous]

Here is my take, it has become such an all encompassing term to include so many different types of needs that it isnt accurate anymore. Some kids need additional behavioral support, some need specific instructional modalities and some need support across the entire school day/ curriculum. So it is a generalization of a large group of children with varying needs.
That is why I feel it is inappropriate. Another way to look at it, many describe advanced learners as needing special education, if your child was described as sped bc of needing special education for those reasons would you feel like it is an appropriate term?

[Anonymous]

It's used in a derogatory way now and maybe always? Have heard kids call others "sped kids" and not in a factual matter of fact way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students have used it as a slur for at least a few decades. I have worked in multiple school systems over many years and don't know any school staff that doesn't say it out "Special Ed", probably for that reason.

+1

[Anonymous]

My adhd, dyslexic middleschooler calls himself and his friends SpEds...I tell him not to but it goes in one ear and out the other. IEP coordinator has referred to "SpEd" as well, so I give up.

[Anonymous]

My son has had an IEP for all but one of his 12 years of school, and we've always heard and said: special needs, special education, autism, ADHD, learning disorders, neurodivergent, dysgraphia and dyscalculia, when referring to his needs. Not that SPED bothers us one little bit... it's just not something people have used around us, so we don't use it either. As PP said, these words come and go.