Special Needs and Disability: Getting Personal

The clinical interpretation of “special needs” is an individual who requires specialized assistance or other accommodations for difficulties that may be medical, mental or psychological. The application of “disability” is more often associated with physical impairments. The uses and connotations of these terms are the subject of endless debate and discussion. But anyone who personally deals with or loves someone dealing with a physical, developmental, mental, medical, psychological or similar challenges will tell you the same thing – no matter what terminology you use, the quest for a satisfying quality of life is their daily reality, not a matter of semantics. [Click here to read the entire Fall edition.]