Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is a really awful thing to say? Tw

238 replies

Goldyy · 04/09/2025 19:39

Referring to children who don’t have behavioural issues or SEND as ‘normal’ children?

OP posts:
Plastictreees · 04/09/2025 21:07

YANBU, I don’t like this either.

verycloakanddaggers · 04/09/2025 20:46

TempNameForObviousReasons · 04/09/2025 19:47

Oh great, another word for the bleeding hearts to get offended about.

I object to SEND children being called 'special needs'.
Why are they special? Are my non-disabled chidren not special?

Don't be silly!

SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

The 'special' refers to the educational needs, not the child.

Notashamed13 · 04/09/2025 20:40

TempNameForObviousReasons · 04/09/2025 19:47

Oh great, another word for the bleeding hearts to get offended about.

I object to SEND children being called 'special needs'.
Why are they special? Are my non-disabled chidren not special?

I'd swap the SEN label from my child for your Non SEN labelled child at the drop of a hat! Back to you though OP and your original question...... YANBU it's not offensive to me or.my SEN daughter.

DashboardConfession · 04/09/2025 20:33

It's "special" meaning particular to that person, not "better". See below.

To think this is a really awful thing to say? Tw
AlanAtSnapeMaltings · 04/09/2025 20:27

Meh. I've never heard neurotypical outside of mn. My daughter falls under SEN.

Whenever Ive heard people refer to "normal" it's generally just a clumsy way for them to say NT. I dont think Ive ever heard it used in a way to make SEN or ND kids feel inferior or less.

I think if people arent involved in SEN in some way (eg all their kids and all their friends kids are NT) then they dont necessarily have the language. I dont think, in most cases "normal" is meant to insupt anyone.

Readyforslippers · 04/09/2025 19:58

TempNameForObviousReasons · 04/09/2025 19:47

Oh great, another word for the bleeding hearts to get offended about.

I object to SEND children being called 'special needs'.
Why are they special? Are my non-disabled chidren not special?

But SEN stands for Special Educational Needs.

Nostylequeen · 04/09/2025 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LlamaNoDrama · 04/09/2025 19:53

TempNameForObviousReasons · 04/09/2025 19:47

Oh great, another word for the bleeding hearts to get offended about.

I object to SEND children being called 'special needs'.
Why are they special? Are my non-disabled chidren not special?

I dare say most people don't even use that term anymore.

MonsterBoo · 04/09/2025 19:52

I have Sen children and this doesn't bother me at all!

BuffetTheDietSlayer · 04/09/2025 19:51

It’s an unpleasant thing to say.

YABU to use trigger warning for this though.

TempNameForObviousReasons · 04/09/2025 19:47

Oh great, another word for the bleeding hearts to get offended about.

I object to SEND children being called 'special needs'.
Why are they special? Are my non-disabled chidren not special?

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/09/2025 19:43

Yanbu

No child is normal anyway, they all have differences somewhere down the line x

EmeraldShamrock000 · 04/09/2025 19:43

Well yes of course, who would say that.