Is using the term 'special needs' offensive now?

[STOPSCRATCHINGTHECRADLECAP]

I've just witnessed a FB conversation in which a mother with children with special needs says that 'special needs' is offensive and it's now 'special educational needs'.

This is new to me, I've not heard of this.

How long has this been the case?

I'll add to the "shocking crap people have said" list.

I'm a school governor. Although new to it - I'm very well informed and I made sure to really really get up to speed with my stuff very quickly indeed. I'm also very very up on things like the SEN code of practice - both as a teacher and as a parent of a child who has various difficulties - I bloody well need to be! (And we have Ofsted due which is an added rocket up the rear when the phone could ring any day...)

Went along to the LEA new governors induction course recently (total waste of time - I'd researched it all before I got there - but the cake was good) and the two presenting the course were going on about SEND with the tone of it being awful that these children drained our budgets so much - and we had the "oh back in my day there was none of this stuff like that dyspraxia nonsense - you just tried to stop being so clumsy" (red rag to bull number 1) and then the corker of "oh and X LEA (shall remain nameless but think of Robin Hood) doesn't give out EHCPs because of financial issues... you get the odd pushy parent who'll manage to force us to do one but that's very rare" (red rag to bull number 2 - steam also rising out of the ears of the parent-governor who was also a teacher beside me by this point).

That all got sharpishly corrected in a "robust and rigorous" manner!

Gilead

Ime, many parents are so exhausted after fighting for their child’s education, healthcare (including therapies) and social care, they do not have the energy to do both! Only a few parents get up and organise support groups, become lay tribunal advocates, sit on working parties with LAs/the DfE, etc - in 20 years, the most common problem I have seen for committees in support groups is to get other parents to join in and take over.

Then, there are the problems claiming benefits for adults - thousands have their PIP or ESA denied for a year, while they fight to tribunal, I doubt terminology is a priority for them either, when they choose between food or heating.

I also agree with a pp that people with autism or physical problems should not presume, just because they are vocal on SN, additional needs, whatever that they are qualified to speak for people with learning disabilities, who actually don’t have a voice in all these debates.

MontStMichel I have Autism, EDS, PsA. I have a dd who is a wheelchair user, her twin will be using a chair in a few years she too has EDS, one leg shorter than the other and Scoliosis. I have a DS with Autism, Pure O, EDS and Scoliosis. Autism can be a learning disability.
I also have a very long history with regard to disability rights.
I've been exhausted, I've fought for education and the correct healthcare. Terminology is important. The language we use defines the lives of others and it's crucial we get it right.

Gilead
Autism is not a learning disability people with autism can also have a learning disability but autism in and of itself is not one.

I find that the whole “ah but you can’t speak for everyone” thing is used as a bit of a shield against constructive feedback more than anything else. I’ve never claimed to speak for everyone, but I certainly object to any neurotypical person thinking that their opinions on autism/LD-related issues should override mine and those of other people who are autistic and/or have a learning disability.

“Ah but autism alone isn’t a learning disability” is another. Autistic people often face huge obstacles in the education system, have the word “retard” spat at us etc. You might draw a distinction, but the systems and people which make life harder for people with learning disabilities also make life harder for autistic people.

Autism isn't a learning disability. For me, my DH, my DD and my DS it's a learning superpower.

I read this with interest,I am a mother of 2 children with special educational needs needs,one having additional needs rather than just special educational needs! So I have often used the words special needs and haven't had a problem with it.I have also used the words additional needs etc as my child has a range of needs etc.I don't really care for labels etc it's just these terms are often used in education and medical situations and sometimes are helpful in helping people understand etc.I am guilty of telling my children they are very special too .......special to me !

In the US, autism is usually referred to as a developmental disorder as in autism spectrum disorder.

I have a PhD. I can’t cross a road safely, do new things easily, find my way round, plan a route, navigate social mores. Learning disabilities do not just cover academia.

Gilead
In the uk you have to have an IQ below 70 to be identified as having a learning disability. The issues you describe would either be identified as specific learning difficulties or developmental disorders.