Special Needs as a Second Language by Lori Miller Fox

One of the most difficult things about having a child with special needs can be feeling like no one understands what you’re going through. Friends, even family, can appear to be totally “oblivious” to your family’s challenges, as well as their achievements. I sheepishly admit, I used to get impatient, frustrated, even angry with those from the “outside world,” until I realized, it’s not that they don’t care, are disinterested, or unfeeling, we just don’t speak the same language.  So to correct this growing problem that is spreading across our nation at lightning speed, and to open the lines of communication between neighbors and friends, even school personnel and parents, I’m compiling a glossary of special needs terms and their common definitions.  Here is just a sampling. Please, talk amongst yourselves and feel free to add your own to the growing glossary.