How do you feel about the term "special needs"?

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TheAP
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26 Oct 2017, 8:26 pm

I used to not mind it, but now I don't like it. I find it kind of patronizing, and prefer "disabled". What about you?

This_Amoeba
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26 Oct 2017, 8:58 pm

I prefer special needs. I'm abled, I just require special needs in order to be abled. Disabled just makes it sound like I'm completely useless at anything no matter what.

EclecticWarrior
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26 Oct 2017, 9:01 pm

It was the preferred term when I was growing up so I still use it casually. However, I also find it patronising. I'm not "special", I'm trying my best to be a regular person (who happens to have AS).

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League_Girl
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26 Oct 2017, 11:49 pm

I have no problem applying it on myself about my childhood because I was special needs. Now I don't see myself as special needs so I don't apply it to myself anymore as an adult.

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ShaggyPlays
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26 Oct 2017, 11:52 pm

both special needs and disabled feel like categories disguised as insults to me. I prefer being called normal intolerant.

Kiprobalhato
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27 Oct 2017, 12:15 am

TheAP wrote:

I used to not mind it, but now I don't like it. I find it kind of patronizing, and prefer "disabled". What about you?

neither of those terms are suitable for me because whatever needs i have are not "special", and i'm differently abled instead of disabled.

i can do things a "normal" person can do, it's just a bit harder. in the same way, i have skills that a "normal" person may nit have to my extent.

if someone called me disabled or said i have special needs, it would be hard for me to not feel insulted. yet, i realize they almost never mean harm. usually, these people have just recently met me. :idea:

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xatrix26
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27 Oct 2017, 12:17 am

Labels I don't mind:
Mentally handicapped
Special needs
Mentally disabled
Child-like
Development disorder
High Functioning Asperger's Syndrome
Autistic
Aspie

Labels I hate:
ret*d or ret*d
Stupid
Dumb
as*hole
Immature
Idiot
Baby
Diaperboy
Rainman

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Lumi
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27 Oct 2017, 2:36 am

I feel neutral about this term, as well as the medical version of disability.

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Edna3362
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27 Oct 2017, 3:39 am

Neutral.

Though, while I see no shame in it, it's not something I would like to apply to myself... After all, I hate having human needs. Having an additional need would likely hate myself for it.

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dragonsanddemons
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27 Oct 2017, 3:58 am

For some reason, I don't feel like it applies to me, even though I did need accommodations at school and now have a service dog. I don't know why it just feels wrong to say I have special needs, when I clearly do.

For me, I'm absolutely disabled. I can't do things that most people can, like count on my voice to work, and I don't seem to have much in the way of benefits from my autism, so at least until I find something I'm actually really good at, it doesn't make sense to me to call myself "differently-abled." But that's just for me personally.

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How do you feel about the term "special needs"?