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"Special needs" is an ineffective euphemism.

Morton Ann Gernsbacher1, Adam R Raimond2, M Theresa Balinghasay1

  • 1University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The term "special needs" is an ineffective euphemism for disability. Research shows "special needs" is viewed more negatively than "disability," even by parents of children with disabilities.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Linguistics
  • Disability Studies

Background:

  • Euphemisms aim to soften language but can be ineffective.
  • The term "special needs" is commonly used for individuals with disabilities, despite style guide recommendations against it.
  • Disability advocates often find "special needs" offensive, while some parents prefer it over "disability."

Purpose of the Study:

  • To empirically investigate the perceived positivity of the euphemism "special needs" compared to "disability."
  • To determine if "special needs" is more or less positive than the term it replaces.

Main Methods:

  • Surveyed 530 adult participants from the general population.
  • Used vignettes to measure how positively individuals were viewed when described with "special needs," "disability," a specific disability, or no label.
  • Collected free association responses to "special needs" and "disability."

Main Results:

  • Participants viewed individuals described as having "special needs" more negatively than those described as having a "disability" or a specific disability.
  • The "special needs" euphemism was ineffective, even for individuals with personal connections to disability.
  • Free associations revealed "special needs" is linked to more negativity, developmental disabilities, and unanswered questions, while "disability" is associated with a broader range of conditions.

Conclusions:

  • The euphemism "special needs" is ineffective and should not be used.
  • The term "disability" is perceived more positively and inclusively than "special needs."
  • Linguistic choices significantly impact perceptions of individuals with disabilities.