as in disabled
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Recent Examples of special-needs
Early literacy and special-needs inclusion, including opt-in tools that support deaf children and parental involvement, are areas where ideology gives way to child development science .
—
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Alzir, who is part of a special tutoring program at Andrew that works with special-needs kids, counts communication as his calling card.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Ever, Coffee and Creps — that employs 16 special-needs adults.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
Their mission at the Smythe stop was to visit a special-needs class and three other classrooms recognized for outstanding attendance, as well as living up to the school’s ROAR — Respectful & Kind, Always Safe, Own Choices, Regulate Emotions — mantra.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Board member Brooklyn Richardson asked her colleagues to especially consider special-needs students who walk to school.
—Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
The only federal laws requiring transportation be provided are for certain special-needs students and children experiencing homelessness.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 26 Dec. 2025
He was separated from his parents and a judge placed him into special-needs foster care.
—Dan Slepian, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
The empathetic lead investigator on Milo’s case, Michael Peña’s Detective Alcaras, has a developmentally disabled, nonverbal 13-year-old son, Sam (Orlando Ivanovic), who would greatly benefit from attending a special-needs school his parents can’t afford.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Alzir, who is part of a special tutoring program at Andrew that works with special-needs kids, counts communication as his calling card.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Ever, Coffee and Creps — that employs 16 special-needs adults.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
Their mission at the Smythe stop was to visit a special-needs class and three other classrooms recognized for outstanding attendance, as well as living up to the school’s ROAR — Respectful & Kind, Always Safe, Own Choices, Regulate Emotions — mantra.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Board member Brooklyn Richardson asked her colleagues to especially consider special-needs students who walk to school.
—Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
The only federal laws requiring transportation be provided are for certain special-needs students and children experiencing homelessness.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 26 Dec. 2025
He was separated from his parents and a judge placed him into special-needs foster care.
—Dan Slepian, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
The empathetic lead investigator on Milo’s case, Michael Peña’s Detective Alcaras, has a developmentally disabled, nonverbal 13-year-old son, Sam (Orlando Ivanovic), who would greatly benefit from attending a special-needs school his parents can’t afford.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special-needs
Adjective
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Scott Quigley — which led to the death of a disabled man — staties seem concerned about the consequences the sergeant would face.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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The monthly payments themselves vary widely, from roughly $180 at the low end to nearly $5,000 for the most severely disabled veterans, with higher sums tied to the number of dependents and the depth of impairment.—
Steven Beynon,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Dallas City Council will vote Wednesday on whether to move forward with a plan to relocate some emergency departments from City Hall and explore redevelopment options for the site, as the debate continues over a $1 billion price tag to restore the ailing downtown building.—
Everton Bailey Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
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Maybe Rice, who has been out since late November, would have elevated the Trojans’ ailing offense.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Not have been declared by a court to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
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On an individual or lab level, researchers must be mindful of unexpected events that may leave them incapacitated or unable to lead their research projects or labs, make plans for continuity, and ensure that these plans are accessible to their team members.—
David Seal,
STAT,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In October, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cristina Miranda found that Conner was mentally unfit to testify in person at trial and allowed the recorded testimony, even though defense attorneys will not be able to cross-examine him in front of the jury.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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If venue personnel deem any person to be a threat, or otherwise unfit, in their sole discretion, he or she will not be permitted access and shall forfeit the prize.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Sharod Knox has lived this way since a 2002 shooting left him quadriplegic and dependent on a ventilator.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Oct. 2025
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Here’s one his many Se7en knockoffs, this one based on a series of novels about a quadriplegic cop, played by Washington, who teams with a rookie cop (Angelina Jolie) to take down a serial killer.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Shortly after administering Narcan to a DUI suspect experiencing a possible overdose, CHP Officer Miguel Cano started to feel unwell, swerved his patrol car into a tree and was killed.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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In addition to ongoing tingling, burning, and sensitivity, people tend to feel generally unwell.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Avatar sees Jake Sully, a paraplegic veteran, on a mission to the moon Pandora, in an entirely new form, adopting that of the Na'vi people.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
20 Dec. 2025
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The same survey found that one resident, who was paraplegic, was left alone all night while calling out for help.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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What’s really sick is how much sense the outcome makes.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
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Other things that can make your pet sick include raisins, ibuprofen and pennies.—
Jane Sykes,
Washington Post,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special-needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special-needs. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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