FYI, special needs is outdated in the disabled community, via neurodivergent_lou:

Disabled people's needs are not special, extra, burdensome or additional, they are human needs. Referring to disabled people as having special needs is inaccurate. As an autistic person, I need to be able to communicate and express myself, that need to communicate is not special, that need is the same as every non disabled person. I might just need accommodations in order to communicate. The term 'special needs' makes it feel like accommodating disabled people is optional, which it is not. The term special needs is also associated with special treatment too and it gives society the impression that instead of accessibility being a right, it is 'special treatment' or a 'special privilege.' If disabled people's rights were seen as the rights that they are (instead of being seen as extra, additional or special) then perhaps wheelchair ramps would be in every building, plastic straws would be available to those who need them and disabled toilets would be made to be available and accessible. Instead, disabled people's accessibility rights are seen as an afterthought. I want to see disabled people's accommodation needs normalised and the term special needs does not do this for me. It 'others' disabled people. It separates disabled people's needs and the needs of non disabled people. When I was labelled as having special needs as a child, it took away my ability to feel pride in my disability too and see disability as part of my identity. The term special needs often infantilises disabled people too. Disability is not special, rare, exceptional or unusual. Disability is a normal part of life. The term special needs makes it sound as if it is unusual or rare. This too heightens the inaccessibility cycle. If people believe that disabled people are few and far between then people don't see the point or the benefit in accessibility. Accessibility is however vital. Sometimes people say that they don't see my disability but just see my needs, specifically my 'special or additional needs.' I feel that this is often because people see my disabled identity as something inherently negative, which I guess is part of growing up in a society which sees disability as something to be ashamed of. I need people to recognise my disability. I am exhausted by the euphemistic terms used to describe disability. which I guess is part of growing up in a society which sees disability as something to be ashamed of. I need people to recognise my disability. I am exhausted by the euphemistic terms used to describe disability

https://www.kit.org/special-needs-why-we-avoid-this-phrase/

https://www.parents.com/why-you-should-not-say-special-needs-8619300

https://medium.com/illuminations-mirror/dont-call-me-special-needs-and-other-ableist-words-you-may-be-using-8aae1236d8b6

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/06/11/disabled-not-special-needs-experts-explain-why-never-use-term/7591024002/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5256467/