as in disabled
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Recent Examples of special-needs
From there, families often consider tools like a special-needs trust.
—
Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
While the district’s overall student enrollment has declined dramatically in recent years, the special-needs population has actually increased, advocates noted.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Rodriguez works with special-needs children, according to her arrest affidavit.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
For some seven years, MindShiftED has focused on supporting some of the city’s poorest families, parents of special-needs students and those who speak only Spanish.
—Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Mar. 2026
The event is a fundraiser organized by the Active 4 All Evergreen Foundation to support programs run by the Evergreen Park and Recreation District, including the INSPIRE special-needs program, which helps keep kids with challenges active.
—Cbscolorado.com Staff, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
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
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
Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
While the district’s overall student enrollment has declined dramatically in recent years, the special-needs population has actually increased, advocates noted.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Rodriguez works with special-needs children, according to her arrest affidavit.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
For some seven years, MindShiftED has focused on supporting some of the city’s poorest families, parents of special-needs students and those who speak only Spanish.
—Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Mar. 2026
The event is a fundraiser organized by the Active 4 All Evergreen Foundation to support programs run by the Evergreen Park and Recreation District, including the INSPIRE special-needs program, which helps keep kids with challenges active.
—Cbscolorado.com Staff, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special-needs
Adjective
-
Singh said the man lived alone with his disabled son, who required round-the-clock care and supervision.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
More than 4,100 Miami-Dade residents, all of whom are formerly homeless and disabled, live in permanent housing units paid for by the program.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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The shelter was at the center of angry protests after an ailing elephant was relocated to Vantara last year, BBC News reported.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Durant’s ailing right knee — and the attention surrounding it — has been the focal point around this team since a bruise suffered during practice last Wednesday forced him to miss Saturday’s game, an ugly 107-98 first-round loss.—
William Guillory,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hospital representatives said the petitions were intended to protect incapacitated patients who are too disabled to make their own decisions and who have no family or friends willing or able to take charge.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
They have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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In October, the judge 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,
4 May 2026
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More than two years later, the trial concluded with 25 of 28 defendants being found guilty (of those not found guilty, two had died during the trial and another was declared mentally unfit for trial).—
USA Today,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Adjective
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The man who died was a quadriplegic, unable to escape on his own.—
Shelley Bortz,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
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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
Adjective
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The diagnosis came earlier this year after months of feeling unwell and searching for answers.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
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The following year, Storms again called Barash while apparently unwell.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Amezcua recalled meeting a paraplegic woman with significant health issues who declined hospital care because, in her experience, she was treated briefly and then discharged back to the street.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
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Johnny Joestar, a paraplegic former jockey who’s already wealthy, joins not for the money, but to pursue Gyro, a strange man with two strange spinning electric balls that seemingly can give him the ability to walk again.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch company that operates the ship, said the two sick people on board were crew members who required urgent medical are.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
-
There are 88 passengers — including one who has died — and 61 crew members, two of whom are sick, onboard, the operator said Monday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special-needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special-needs. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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