Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a special educator. I don’t see it offensive if someone uses the term special education in reference to a job title, or a process or paperwork. It is offensive if you use it as an adjective describing a student.

SPED as an abbreviation isn’t great to me but if you are using it for something where special education would be appropriate (e.g. a sped teacher) it’s OK.

I really dislike the term special needs.

What are you supposed to call the kids then?

Disabled.

Anonymous wrote:Some kids are now using “acoustic” instead of autistic/sped.

it aint any better.

The communication has to happen and to identify problems they have to be recognized and identified. These arguments detract from services for our most needed populations. The term SPED is no different than any identifying word. If your culture or the culture you find yourself living in decides to discriminate or abuse students by turning any identifiable word into abusive language I would be more concerned with the culture of that area than the acronym used to identify and provide services for special populations.

Anonymous wrote:I am a special educator. I don’t see it offensive if someone uses the term special education in reference to a job title, or a process or paperwork. It is offensive if you use it as an adjective describing a student.

SPED as an abbreviation isn’t great to me but if you are using it for something where special education would be appropriate (e.g. a sped teacher) it’s OK.

I really dislike the term special needs.

What are you supposed to call the kids then?

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This was a derogatory slur when I was in ES in the 1960s. Hard to believe that people don’t know this.

Yep. Early 80's as well.

I am a special educator. I don’t see it offensive if someone uses the term special education in reference to a job title, or a process or paperwork. It is offensive if you use it as an adjective describing a student.

SPED as an abbreviation isn’t great to me but if you are using it for something where special education would be appropriate (e.g. a sped teacher) it’s OK.

I really dislike the term special needs.

I’m a mom of a SNs K kid and so pretty new to this and in having conversations with others will say stuff like “his SPED teacher is out today.” I use it as short hand for talking about special ed stuff at school, but I don’t call my DS a sped kid. I guess I haven’t given too much thought it it though.

Learning differences

Learning specialist

Some kids are now using “acoustic” instead of autistic/sped.

While checking my MS-age daughter’s texts, saw one of her teammates use it as a slur.

I was disgusted, and daughter and I discussed it. Not okay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The special education department at my school is still called the SPED department. What should it be called now?

It should be called SpEd.

Are you serious?

Any way, they both sound the same

Yes. What does the P in SPED stand for?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The special education department at my school is still called the SPED department. What should it be called now?

It should be called SpEd.

Are you serious?

Any way, they both sound the same

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

100%. I’m old enough to have seen this play out multiple times.

Euphemism treadmill.
Those who don't know history cry and scream to make educated people repeat it.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemism

Y’all simply must read the Wikipedia article linked above! It’s a hoot.

“ Toilet is an 18th-century euphemism, replacing the older euphemism house-of-office….”

Let’s bring back house-of-office!!!!

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.

Exactly! And it’s really crazy when you think about it.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This was a derogatory slur when I was in ES in the 1960s. Hard to believe that people don’t know this.

+1. It was a slur when I was in school in the 1980’s! Kids would just call them ‘speds. But, it was not really including the over labeled and over studied kids of today who are diagnosed ADHD and ASD left and right who are super highly functional.