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"Special Needs" - Is that Wrong?

In the recent months I have noticed a shift on social media about how some individuals do not like the word "special needs" to label someone who has a "disability". They tend to argue why do we even have to label and my kids/own needs are not exactly special. I remember bringing this up to my mom when I first heard of the backlash and my mom said she argued that there is nothing wrong with that label because individuals with "disabilities" DO have special needs, which I agree. I see nothing wrong with the label "special needs" because we are truly special people.

So what shall we call you??????

We certainly have come a long way as far as the label goes. I mean come on people used to call us retarded. So I am proud of the shift but here is my view of what I preferred to be called and what I call my students.

We are DIFFERENTLY ABLED.

 Do you want to know why I prefer this term so much better than "special needs" or "individual with disability" or "disabled" or "handicapped" because this language does not label. It says it how it is. We are people who are differently abled. We are people who have skills just like you "normal" people but we just do them a little differently. There is nothing in this term that negatively describes us saying that  we can't or we are lacking of an ability.

So yes we are different and yes we are able.

See it now? It speaks beautiful truth.

The bottom line is this. I am sure there are differently abled people out there that have a different opinion or don't mind being called any of the terms I listed above. Honestly, just ask. That is something I always say. If you do not know, we prefer to be asked rather than the awkwardness. I love when people bluntly ask me a question because I know you are curious.

But --- my friends whatever you choose. Choose to be kind and to speak beautiful words and lift each other up because that is how we are to live life.

Comments

  1. Jodi WilesDecember 19, 2018 at 7:54 PM

    This is awesome, Nicole! I agree it's important to ask the individual what they prefer. You are differently abled in the most beautiful way!

    ReplyDelete

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