Terminology - 'Special Needs', 'Disabled children' -v- 'children with disabilities', 'multiple and complex', etc etc. Please - Need help for leaflet!

[tallwivglasses]

Silly time of the morning I know but I do get odd bits of respite to make the most of

Hi to anyone else up at this ridiculous hour

I'm a mum of ds, 11, asd, adhd, no speech, fighting the nappy fight, etc...

I'm also a community arts worker (freelance, poor) - trying to set up arts and play activities that welcome our children.

It's publicity time though! - to newspapers, TV, parents, schools, posters, flyers...I'm a bit scared of getting it wrong. In some circles the words 'carer' and 'sn' are offensive.

Children with...?

Is there a definitive range of ok words?

Not sure there is...

I would welcome and appreciate ANY suggestions/help/ideas/debate!

My friend says 'our special children' not sure it would work on a poster though.

Either SN disabled or additional needs I quite like the additional needs one.

I like additional needs too - I don't like special and find it a bit cringey but that might just be me!

'special' has also been turned into a common insults amongst many of the general public. I'd go with additional needs.

I go to a group which says 'additional needs' which I think works well.

I took ds to a thing for children with 'particular needs' yesterday. Never seen that before and I didn't like it. Has 'additional' suddenly become offensive?

Anyway I'm going with 'additional'. Thanks, all

I like the term "additional needs" because some ignorant bigoted people use the term "special" as an insult!

Hi tall wiv (sign waves!)

I would go with additional needs, for future thought I think the disabled children v children with disabilities is the tension between wanting to emphasise that they are children first and foremost and wanting to emphasise the links with disabled adults who would state their experience is one of being disabled by society.... I tend to use both in different settings.

(Ps I am now teaching 10 members of staff Sign supported English at the school ds will go to in Sept. they are really keen, I'm really enjoying it too.)

Wow that's brilliant, sign. Hopefully his classmates will pick it up too.

Thanks for clearing up the children with disabilities -v- disabled children thing. Beautifully explained!

have you got a cass in your area? sometimes they have grants for setting things like this up and will help and promote your work, our cass run a carers drop in and always promote things like this and tell carers what's happening in the community....sorry just an idea

DOH (!) never apologise for good advice. Thanks!

I like to use 'children living with a disability or illness'. I use this when talking about my little one.

xx