The term “Special needs” has a softer sound, it is not as stigmatized as is the case with the term “disabled”. It does not sound like the child is crippled or walking in a wheelchair. With proper care and education, a child with special needs can live a normal, healthy, and happy life like other kids and reach their full potential.

Examples of children with special needs include:

• Speech and language difficulties
• Emotional, behavioral, and social difficulties
• Learning difficulties (Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dyslexia)
• Multiple and profound learning difficulties
• Multi-sensory impairment
• Autistic spectrum conditions

What does a child with a disability mean?
Now that you know what a child with special needs means, now let’s focus on a child with a disability. A child with a disability is a child with a mental or physical impairment that has a substantial or long-term effect on his/her life. Disabled children usually need help in virtually everything they do. Their needs are complex and need close care and assistance. It is important to note that it is easy to identify a child with a disability because they are either injured, crippled, or incapacitated.

Unlike children with special needs who can improve with time, disabled children cannot change or improve their conditions. They live with their conditions for the rest of their life. Parents with children with disability need to accept that they cannot change the condition of their children and shoud give them love, care, and attention that they need.

Examples of children with disability include:

• Long term learning difficulty
• Development delay
• Chronic illness or multiple health problems

What is the main difference between a child with a disability and a child with special needs?
Disability is more about mental and physical inabilities while special needs are more about learning disabilities. It is easy to identify a child who is disabled because they are usually crippled or incapacitated but is not easy to identify a child with special needs unless you interact with them. More so, children with special needs usually improve with time if they are given special care and assistance. However, very little can be done to change the condition of a disabled child. The only thing that parents and caregivers can do is shower them with lots of love and give them the care and assistance they need.

Final word
If you have been thinking that special needs and disability mean the same thing, we hope that you now know the difference. However, bottom line is that both children with disability and children with special needs require special assistance, love, and care from their caregivers. Once you notice that your child has special needs or has a disability, ensure that you take the necessary action as soon as possible. The earlier your child gets help, the happier he/she will be.