[Poll] Is Aspergers 'Special Needs'?

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Do you think AS is 'special needs' or merely 'different needs'? Explain your answer.

I'm writing something about this in my blog and would like your opinion. Thanks.

There's no difference between "special needs" and "different needs". The second is just a term that they use because people think disability is supposed to be shameful.

There's no question that Asperger's children (though not necessarily adults) require some things that most people don't, and that's "special needs". They can be rather small things, but if a child didn't need help, he couldn't be diagnosed to begin with.

Last edited by Callista on 14 Mar 2010, 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I was in special ed, I was on the IEP, I need more help in school, my mom had to find a way to raise me and teach me so yeah.

I voted special needs because I think there are those who are impaired enough to need special counseling, training and maybe even medication due to AS. I dont see a difference in "special" and "different" needs in this case.

I agree with everyone so far. Special needs. I needed special (or remedial) classes for math and reading. And I couldn't get a job without help, which is like a special needs class after I left school.

it would fit into special needs category Brittany2907

It totally depends on the person. There are aspies who don't need any accommodations, and there are others that can barely function.

Yes. Most definitely. I took my daughter for testing because of her school struggles. She now has accommodations to help her function. Special needs.

I was in Special Ed for my entire school career, from pre-school through untill the end of college. I also need stuff that most people don't need. In my case, I'm Special Needs, and I don't find anything wrong with that.

i was a client of DSHS for many years.

I think the answer to this question perhaps depends on which country you are living in.

If you are living in a country where Asperger's Sydrome is considered to be a disability (as it is in many Western, especially English speaking countries) then the answer is yes, it is 'special needs' and vice versa.

Is special needs because your needs are different. It's not a case of one or the other.

I was in school in the 1970s and was not diagnosed or assigned any kind of special needs provision - kids were troublemakers if they had an adequate IQ (everyone did 11+) and did not have physical dependency needs. School was harsh and certainly had the side-effect of teaching a lot of coping strategies because the consequences of standing out were so harsh - although I don't subscribe to the "punishment builds character" and "did me no harm" views.

I really don't know if special needs provision would have helped or prepared me better for life. I am sure it would have been less painful.

Yep, and also a reason that a lot of people would likely say "no". Sure, we need a "different" way of doing things, but guess what! Anything out of the norm that requires an accommodation of any sort, would be considered a "special need". You don't have to need things physically for it to be considered a special need.

Now, when schools come into play, it becomes subjective, depending on the district and whether or not they see the problems or overlook it. But that doesn't mean much in terms of whether or not the child is a special needs child either way.

In the latter case (in which they would overlook it), then the child is simply a special needs child whose needs are being ignored.

I vote yes under protest.

Not all of those with AS require special considerations in school, (myself being one of them) However, there are quite a few who do. So.....absent the option of maybe or Case by Case, then I can not in good conscious vote no.

"special" and "different" are largely synonimous words - the difference is that "special" was intended to have a more positive meaning (but the existence of this thread means that the itention failed - today "special needs" have a negative connotation)