Special Needs. Special Words.

Editor's note: After a reader commented on the , which involves two children in the special education program, that "Normal is used to identify all students who are not special needs." Canton Patch asked Debra Madonna to write about the phrase "special needs" and what that really means. She is co-chairwoman of the Miracle League of Plymouth and driving force in raising funds to support the barrier-free playing field. This is her response:

"Special Needs" are the buzzwords used to replace words like handicapped, disabled and other words that I don’t like to hear anymore. I’m not fond of the term "special needs" because it’s too limiting.

I’ve been part of the group who built the ; and yes, in the elevator speech, Miracle League field has been described as a baseball field for those with special needs. But a more accurate description is that it is a baseball field with a rubberized surface to make it safe and accessible for those who play on the field.

A diagnosis that is attached to a person, such as autism, cerebral palsy, Downs Syndrome, are medical descriptors that don’t begin to tell us who a person is or help us to get to know each other.

When someone says: "Joey is an autistic," it sounds like that is all that person is. We would never say that "Joey is a cancer" or "a Parkinson" or "a stroke."

Tim Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics, coined the phrases "diffabilities" and "giftedness."  I like these words.  But when talking about children, I prefer that we call them "children." The word "children" implies a million different things. “Children” means hope.  “Children” means dreams and imagination.  Unless someone tells a child they can’t do something, they believe they can do anything.   On any given day, a child may be happy, a runner, a learner, joyful, weepy, ornery, a baseball player, or Spiderman.

Why would adults ever want to use words that limit a child’s future? Aren’t adults suppose to believe in and help children as they develop?

A few years ago, I broke my right leg. Believe me, I was very needy. But I was needy, with a great family and a lot of friends … who helped me. When my broken leg healed, then it was my time to help others. At any given time, we can be on the giving or receiving end of a helping hand.

This past summer, the ribbon was cut and play began at the Miracle League of Plymouth  field. Sixty-three extraordinary children and young adults, along with families, friends, coaches, umpires, buddies gathered to play and watch baseball. Every One played Every Game and Every Spectator cheered for Every Player.

So if we don’t use the words "Special Needs," what words would you use to describe members of a Miracle League Baseball Team? Here are a couple words to begin with: "Players," "Champions," "Friends."

Don’t children deserve to live in the world in which adults believe that every child deserves the chance to dream and opportunities to make dreams come true?

Aren’t we adults smart enough to use better words when we talk about children instead of relying on familiar words that demean or lessen the value of another person?

If we want to make a better world for our children and all children, the first step is  to think about the words we use … before we speak.

Debra Madonna

Miracle League of Plymouth
357 Theodore St., The Bilkie Family Field
www.miracleleagueplymouth.org