special needs

[ spesh-uhl needz ]

plural noun

, Sometimes Offensive.

1. the special educational requirements of those with learning difficulties, emotional or behavioral problems, or physical disabilities.

special needs

plural noun

1. 1. the educational requirements of pupils or students suffering from any of a wide range of physical disabilities, medical conditions, intellectual difficulties, or emotional problems, including deafness, blindness, dyslexia, learning difficulties, and behavioural problems
   2. ( as modifier )

      special-needs teachers

Sensitive Note

See special.

Other Words From

• spe·cial-needs adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of special needs¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The CTC has been a lifeline—the entirety of our first payment went to a doctor’s appointment for one of my special needs sons.

From Time

Moore is aware of her slim chances of finding another affordable property that is big enough for her family and in an area where her special needs grandchild receives support services—much less a landlord willing to accept her rental voucher.

From Time

Johnson went on to testify that he’d repeatedly asked for a special needs trust so that he could collect his future settlement without losing his Social Security benefits.

From The Daily Beast

Lorrine Paradela, 46, a single mother, said the money allowed her to quit the second job she worked on top of her full-time position, working with special needs children in schools.

From Washington Post

The software was originally developed at the University of Central Florida to help teachers in the school of education practice working with special needs children before moving on to real students.

From Fortune

By the way, why is special interests always shady while special needs is practically an accolade?

From The Daily Beast

And while everyone benefits from gardens, they can provide an extra boost for kids with special needs.

From The Daily Beast

About half of these are preschool students with varying levels of special needs.

From The Daily Beast

They can no longer access the park because their children with special needs have meltdowns when they have to wait.

From The Daily Beast

Next, we will have to get a seat made for people with special needs.

From The Daily Beast

Secondly, there are special needs dependent on locality or on the race or temperament of the users of a particular library.

From Project Gutenberg

One surely need not hesitate a moment in naming as the one for our special needs the writer we have just quoted.

From Project Gutenberg

It was with the special needs of these people that the Regina Railway Mission had to deal.

From Project Gutenberg

The War Department Code is a military code adapted to the special needs of the military establishment in peace and war.

From Project Gutenberg

Storage batteries as used in modern submarines have been especially developed to meet the special needs of submarine-boat service.

From Project Gutenberg