Posted by Rosie Reeves on August 24, 2020 · Leave a Comment
THERAsurf takes special needs kids out onto the waves
I have been struggling with the issue of labels. I have a special needs child, but I believe all children are special – and they all, in some way, have special needs, as I discussed in an early blog post.
So, how special is “special”? Actually, my child doesn’t qualify for most programs – she isn’t “special” enough for them. But sometimes as I see her struggling with something I realize she is more “special” than I thought.
So what is the real meaning of “special”?
Clearly a child who is a musical prodigy is also worthy of being called “special.” Merriam-Webster says special is an adjective meaning distinguished by some unusual quality. So, the term “special” really means different. I have no problem with the term “different needs child” but I suspect someone somewhere would find it offensive. And again, every child has different needs so it seems redundant to me.
Most people don’t know my child’s medical history, and they really don’t need to know it. But I don’t want it to be viewed as some deep, dark secret, either. I continue to struggle with this.
How do you handle it with your child?
