“Child With Special Needs” versus “Handicapped Child”

The word “handicapped” means disabled or a burden. Just because a child has a special need does not mean that he is a “burden” to his family or to society in general. Also, people often associate the term “handicapped” with a physical disability.

“Special needs” is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of possible issues that a child might face. For example, a child who was traumatized might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The child might be able to interact just like any other child under most circumstances but needs some extra care in certain situations that trigger his special need. For example, if a child almost drowned, he might act like any other child until he is taken into a swimming pool. Other children with PTSD might be just fine during the day but suffer from severe nightmares. Only those in his immediate family would even know that he had a special need in this situation.

A child with special needs is a child who needs some extra help in one or more areas of his life. Needing extra help does not make him a burden.

“Child From Abroad” versus “Foreign Child”

As discussed in a prior blog, the word “foreign” means “strange” or “unfamiliar.” To call a child “foreign” is to imply that there is something strange about the child. There is nothing strange or unfamiliar about being born in another country. A majority of the earth’s population was born in a different country – that does not make anyone born in another country “strange.” The phrase “child from abroad” accurately describes the situation – the child was born in another country.

I have not personally heard either phrase used by the people I know who have adopted internationally. I am guessing that these are things said by other people who know the adoptive families. If I am talking about one of these families and this information is relevant, I generally say that the child was adopted from a particular country.

If anyone reading this blog has any input on this topic, I would welcome any comments you might have.