Changing name of special needs forum

[Anonymous]

There is a growing movement by disability advocates away from using euphemisms like special needs and actually using the word disability. Could you please change the name of the forum to reflect that? Parents of children with disabilities would be much better.

Two longer arguments for using the word disability: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/06/11/disabled-not-special-needs-experts-explain-why-never-use-term/7591024002/?fbclid=IwAR2uxZbLw-z-5WpAlD_5As0P2E8u8uuwVKfUZotrjbQrAL2Szv9wbzVv4s0 and https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kNMJaXuFuWQ

[Anonymous]

Thanks for suggesting this, OP! I'm also a parent of a disabled kid and totally agree.

[Anonymous]

I agrée!

[Anonymous]

As the parent of two disabled kids, and a special educator, I have mixed feelings about this.

As a high school teacher, I can tell you that it's really important that it's important that kids with disabilities interact with and learn from the community of disabled adults, and that using the same terminology that are used in the adult community is important.

But I also think that there are lots of kids, particularly very young children and children with emerging mental health diagnoses, where the use of special needs fits better, because it isn't clear whether the issue will be a disability long term. The parent of a toddler considering speech therapy for a delay, or the parent of a 11 year old showing early signs of anxiety, may not relate to the word "disability", and may not find the forum, and so might not receive the support they need.

I wonder if there's a way to label the forum that's more inclusive?

[Anonymous]

I honestly thought "disabled" was a term people considered to be pejorative and that "special needs" was created to be positive change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly thought "disabled" was a term people considered to be pejorative and that "special needs" was created to be positive change.

Disabled is a term that has been reclaimed, similar to the way that the words gay and queer have been reclaimed by the LGBT+ community. Most disabled adults prefer it.

[Anonymous]

Disabled is such a negative word. Pretty soon, the “r” word will come back. This world is getting stuck on terms of everything way too much

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disabled is such a negative word. Pretty soon, the “r” word will come back. This world is getting stuck on terms of everything way too much

The whole point of the disability advocacy movement is that disability isn't a negative word.

[Anonymous]

Special needs feels like an umbrella term that includes all families of physical, cognitive and mental health issues. Disability does not feel as inclusive. But I am open to change and learning!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Special needs feels like an umbrella term that includes all families of physical, cognitive and mental health issues. Disability does not feel as inclusive. But I am open to change and learning!

Which of those things is not a disability?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly thought "disabled" was a term people considered to be pejorative and that "special needs" was created to be positive change.

Disabled is a term that has been reclaimed, similar to the way that the words gay and queer have been reclaimed by the LGBT+ community. Most disabled adults prefer it.

The forum is for parents of kids with disabilities/ special needs. What disable adults prefer to be called isn’t actually relevant here. I agree with the umbrella poster. Special needs is an umbrella term and disability fits under that. As someone else mentioned above, not all special needs are permanent. Keep the forum title the same name and those that have specific questions about any kind of disability is welcome to title their thread that.

[Anonymous]

One way to encourage both sides is "Children with Disabilities and Special Needs"

It appeases both sides, those who prefer one vs the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly thought "disabled" was a term people considered to be pejorative and that "special needs" was created to be positive change.

Individuals with disabilities is the term agreed upon when the ADA was enacted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One way to encourage both sides is "Children with Disabilities and Special Needs"

It appeases both sides, those who prefer one vs the other.

This works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special needs feels like an umbrella term that includes all families of physical, cognitive and mental health issues. Disability does not feel as inclusive. But I am open to change and learning!

Which of those things is not a disability?

I'm the special ed teacher, and parent of two disabled kids above. Part of the definition of disability is that it's long term or permanent.

We've had a lot of stress in our family over the past few years. One of my kids has received and benefited from therapy to help him deal with the situation. His therapist is pretty clear that what he's treating is a normal response to trauma, and not a disability. He's got a sibling who sees the same therapist for an anxiety disorder that has been exacerbated by trauma. I would consider him to be disabled.

Delays in very young children can also be confusing and hard to know if it will meet the long term criteria to be a disability. Similarly, kids can have temporary special needs due to injury.

I think the forum should be a place that a parent in those circumstances can post.