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I know I've ranted about person-first language before.
I think that the linguistic contortions people go through to use nouns in place of perfectly acceptable adjectives are insane, and draw more attention to the oh-so-stigmatizing disability than just speaking naturally.
However. Special needs is not an adjective. You can't be a "special needs child" because special modifies needs and needs doesn't modify anything, since it's a noun. It sounds stupid. It is stupid. The awkwardness of using a phrase in this manner, again, calls attention to those Very Special Needs ofBlossom whatever child that is. Stop it.
Additionally, I'd like to ask which needs a child might have (since it's always special needs child, never special needs person) that are special. I mean, so special that they merit this label. Don't all children have needs, some of which are unique? Or is it that most kids are all alike, and only a few are special enough to merit the label of doom?
However. Special needs is not an adjective. You can't be a "special needs child" because special modifies needs and needs doesn't modify anything, since it's a noun. It sounds stupid. It is stupid. The awkwardness of using a phrase in this manner, again, calls attention to those Very Special Needs of
Additionally, I'd like to ask which needs a child might have (since it's always special needs child, never special needs person) that are special. I mean, so special that they merit this label. Don't all children have needs, some of which are unique? Or is it that most kids are all alike, and only a few are special enough to merit the label of doom?