What is special needs?

 Special needs is broad term encompassing the diverse requirements of individuals who have physical, developmental, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or sensory conditions that necessitate additional support, accommodations, or specialized services to participate fully in society and reach their potential. This can include anything from modifications in a learning environment to specialized medical care.

You've correctly identified several categories of special needs:

• Physical: This includes conditions affecting mobility, motor skills, physical health, and stamina. Examples include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and chronic illnesses.

• Mental/Cognitive: This category involves conditions affecting intellectual functioning, learning, memory, and problem-solving. Intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities like dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia fall under this.

• Emotional/Behavioral: This includes conditions that significantly impact a person's emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior. Examples can include anxiety disorders, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and conduct disorders.

• Learning Disability: As you described earlier, this refers to neurological disorders that affect specific academic skills like reading, writing, and math, despite having overall average intelligence.

• Impairment: This is a broader term that refers to a loss or abnormality of body structure or function (e.g., visual impairment, hearing impairment). Impairments can fall under other categories like physical or sensory needs.

• Developmental: This category includes conditions that occur during a person's developmental period (birth to age 18) and may impact various areas of functioning, such as communication, social skills, learning, and physical abilities. Autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome are examples.

It's important to note that these categories can overlap, and an individual may have needs that fall into multiple areas.

You also mentioned that individuals with special needs may face mental disorders. This is a critical point. People with special needs have a higher risk of experiencing mental health challenges such as: