`What makes Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ‘Special’?

The term ‘special educational needs and disabilities’ (SEND) was first introduced in the 1944 Education Act in the United Kingdom and has since been used to refer to those who require additional educational support due to physical, mental, emotional, and sensory impairments. These conditions may need to improve a student’s capacity to learn, access the curriculum, and participate in regular school activities (Ainscow et al., 2015). The term ‘special educational needs’ (SEN) has become synonymous with the term ‘disability’ and is often used to refer to those with impairments that impede their learning or development. However, the phrase “special needs” has also been used to refer to those who do not have a handicap but may need extra help because of learning difficulties such as learning disabilities, speech, and language difficulties, or behavioral concerns. Thus, the word “SEND” refers to persons who may need additional educational help due to various physical, mental, emotional, and sensory problems.