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Recent Examples of special-needs
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
Tickets are just $8, with $2 from every ticket benefiting the Miracle League of San Diego (MLSD), an inspiring organization that provides special-needs children and adults the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 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
Primary beneficiary of proceeds for the rest of the festival is The Allen School, which supports special-needs children up to age 5 and prepares them and their parents for kindergarten.
—Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2025
But the cameo was an even bigger surprise for folks 300 miles away at Equestrian Connection, a special-needs therapy organization that had booked the War and Treaty for an Illinois benefit event that same night.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Luca received daily home visits from a speech therapist as a toddler and was enrolled in a special-needs preschool where this continued.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
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
Tickets are just $8, with $2 from every ticket benefiting the Miracle League of San Diego (MLSD), an inspiring organization that provides special-needs children and adults the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 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
Primary beneficiary of proceeds for the rest of the festival is The Allen School, which supports special-needs children up to age 5 and prepares them and their parents for kindergarten.
—Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2025
But the cameo was an even bigger surprise for folks 300 miles away at Equestrian Connection, a special-needs therapy organization that had booked the War and Treaty for an Illinois benefit event that same night.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Luca received daily home visits from a speech therapist as a toddler and was enrolled in a special-needs preschool where this continued.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special-needs
Adjective
-
Some were developmentally disabled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Known as Medi-Cal in California, the program provides health insurance to low-income and disabled individuals.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Now that the four astronauts are back on solid ground, medical professionals can better evaluate the condition of the ailing astronaut, NASA officials said.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
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Corey Perry exited the lineup anew, returning to the side of an ailing family member.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some Native Americans, caregivers for an incapacitated person, and people regularly attending drug or alcohol treatment programs may also qualify for exemptions, along with other specific cases noted in the guidance.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2025
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For instance, an estranged child may have more legal authority over an incapacitated parent than their long-term but unmarried partner.—
Kahli Zietlow,
The Conversation,
18 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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To receive one of these designations from a doctor in this era was to be marked as unfit for society and a candidate for potential institution and sterilization.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
6 Dec. 2025
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Families of victims, human rights defenders and international bodies such as the UN have criticized the commissions for a lack of transparency, for being ineffective and ultimately unfit for delivering accountability.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Nov. 2025
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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Wendy Garrick is wealthy but unwell, and her husband Douglas is a walking red flag with his cold, controlling behavior.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
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John of John, Stuart’s third novel, follows a closeted young art student returning to his childhood home in Scotland’s Hebrides islands, where his unwell grandmother and conservative lay preacher father live uneasily under the same roof.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 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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This leaves a sicker risk pool behind and drives premiums even higher for those who remain.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
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Humans who have prolonged close contact with sick or dead birds infected with HPAI are the most at risk of becoming infected.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special-needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special-needs. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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