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

The “opposite” of a child with SEND is not JUST a “neurotypical “ child.

To suggest it would be is to suggest that SEND is just “neurodivergent” conditions and not multiple other conditions and diseases that cause the D part of SEND (disability) - heart conditions, joint conditions, mitochondrial disorders, endocrine disorders, other rare genetic disorders, cerebral palsy, kidney problems etc etc…

A neurotypical child can also be physically profoundly disabled.

The dialogue around children with special educational needs and disabilities has become synonymous with ASD and ADHD when in fact the needs some children described as having SEND frequently go beyond “educational needs” and are extensive, stressful, financially devastating, painful and often life-shortening.

SEND (or not being “normal”) often goes way beyond getting 1-1 attention in school or a fucking laptop.

Is it “awful” to refer to any person who does not have needs of this type as “normal”…? No. Normal isn’t an insult.

I refer to people without the kinds of needs or disabilities that put them into SEND categories as “regular “ children. If that’s offensive- as the parent of a PMLD child I couldn’t give a fuck to be honest. People will obviously go looking for offence where none is intended.

So ignorant
Are you really saying you are jealous of children with disabilities?
Again it goes off need not diagnosis not all children with ADHD and or Autism will qualify
And only those with very complex needs will qualify for the highest rates.

Exactly. You have to demonstrate need, not expense.
Just because an ADHD child may need extra watching over or guidance doesn't mean they cost more like for like compared to other nt kids. No medical equipment, expensive adaptations, frequent hospital trips etc as you would expect with other illnesses and disabilities.
Literally 1k extra each month to spend on what they like as a family, oh and of course a club or two to burn off the child's extra energy or improve their mental health (my nt children would also like and benefit from clubs but we don't qualify for extra money)

This is relevent because it's just another example of how SEN children and their families absolutely do get 'special' treatment and extra opportunities, as per pp.

What would you prefer?

I think it depends how it is used. I have one disabled, SEN child and one other, and for want of better, more fitting words that laymen will understand, I have occasionally been known to refer to the "normal" child, or "normal" issues, always with finger quotes - because what the hell is normal anyway, but it clearly and succintly explains what I mean. What term should I use? Healthy? Non-SEN? Able? Clearly I'm not using the term in a derogatory way, and I'd never say it about anybody else's kid, but genuinely curious if there is an official term I should be using if mine is accidentally causing offence

First of all it goes off need not diagnosis and autism is a huge spectrum my son gets HRC and HRM so we get a " free" car he costs an absolute fortune, he's severely autistic with severe learning disabilities, and incredibly destructive I'm constantly replacing clothes house hold items but you carry on with your ignorance.

Embarrassingly ignorant lol

What's that got to do with the topic under discussion?

And you don't qualify for additional benefits simply for having ADHD or ASD, you have to demonstrate need.

Don't forget the extra DLA and associated UC disabled child elements- for a child on HRC this can be over 1k extra each and every month... and when the child has ADHD or autism for example they don't really have any more added expenses than other children who don't qualify for all this extra money.

I think most of the time it would be a slip up. And not completely unreasonable as a mistake - I mean, neurotypical is acceptable and widely used, but “typical” is basically a synonym for normal.

So what is the correct label? Non SEN? I’m not saying it’s right but it’s merely a term that’s been used to show that child is just “typical” or “average” in this context. If a child has “additional” or “special” (in the context of educational needs) then those needs are based against the “typical”, or to put it another way “normal” needs. It might not be the be best term but I don’t think it’s that offensive.

Extra exam and assessment time

One on one staff time

Free laptop, free other gizmos, excusal from various forms of assessment

Yes they do

Big disagree! They absolutely do!!!

SEN kids don’t get special treatment either.

Depends on the context, tone and who is saying it. I have a few friends with kids with SEN and they do say that.

In all honesty I can’t get too worked up about it. Most language around SEN and neurodivergence is in some way drawing a distinction between people who are the “norm” and people who have “differences from the norm”.

Like neurotypical and neurodivergent.

”Normal” can simply mean the norm, typical, average.

i dont think it’s the best choice of language, but in most cases it’s used I don’t think the intent is cruel.

(saving this as ND parent of ND kids)

I'm 15 years into parenting a child who has SEN. I've only ever heard "normal" as a slip up.

Arguably the term "neurotypical" is just a fairly transparent rebadging of "normal" and it too will soon fall out of favour. Perhaps that is already happening with the whole "allistic" thing.

Normal kids don't get special treatment

Boring

It was probably a slip of the tongue - we have all said things that we don't actually mean when somehow what you are trying to say doesn't come out right (menopause anyone?).

Because they have specialist ‘needs’. The kind of needs most kids dont have. 🙄

What does ‘normal’ mean?????

Dunno but I hope they’re nicer people than you!

I just assume they have a limited vocabulary lol

As a parent of children with SEND I prefer the term "additional needs" but if you want to bitch about terminology you could try 24 hours in the life of a "additional needs" mum!