as in disabled
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Recent Examples of special-needs
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
The North Texas couple accused of burying their special-needs son in the backyard of their Burleson home told police the 26-year-old had died a few days before at a local hospital, officials said.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
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
The North Texas couple accused of burying their special-needs son in the backyard of their Burleson home told police the 26-year-old had died a few days before at a local hospital, officials said.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special-needs
Adjective
-
The Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program primarily helps tax filers with incomes below $69,000, those who are disabled and those who are not proficient in English.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Menasche believes the lot, which is only open overnight, is an ineffective offering, especially for disabled and low-income individuals who may not be able to afford the gas required to drive in and out every day.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Blacklock had thought about enrolling at Michigan State or UCLA, but Texas afforded him a chance to be near his ailing mother.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Last year, another change in Fed thinking nudged rates lower as concerns swirled about an ailing job market.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
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Williams owned Guardian and Associates, an agency appointed as a fiduciary by the Wayne County Probate Court for incapacitated wards in more than 1,000 cases, authorities said.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The resulting investigation by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services deemed the young parents unfit caregivers.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Democrats wringing their hands and making appeals to process while the President sends people to Salvadoran prisons without trial are unfit to meet the moment, this theory says.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 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
-
The state of the nation is unwell.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
-
There was no suggestion that the woman, who had been working at a tourist accommodation on the island for about six weeks, was unwell at the time of her death, Algie said.—
Jennifer Jett,
NBC news,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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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And the American health care system isn't set up to help people get through it, Mauldin outlines in the book, by way of inaccessible health care, lack of caregiver supports, expensive treatments and an overall de-valuing of sick people and those with disabilities.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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In January 2025, a hospital in West Texas began reporting that children were coming in sick with measles.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special-needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special-needs. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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