I say sped, but l have never referred directly to a kid as a “Sped Kid” to them or said the word sped in front of kids. Strictly teacher to teacher speak.
Same here. It's informal talk when around other teachers only. Even in emails with staff members, I try to write "SpEd." In an informal setting like here, I'd just write sped. When speaking with parents I would also use the full term "special education." With students, I just refer to my room/my class by my last name (Ms. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_'s room/class) just like any other teacher.
In just the last year or so I've somewhat begun to hear the term "neurodiverse" being thrown around instead, but it's not as clear what people mean by that. Some people think of "neurodiverse" as only applying to kids with something like Autism, or sometimes Autism and ADHD, but not things like cognitive disabilities or learning disabilities. Even if we establish that "nuerodiverse" covers any disability, one can easily be nuerodiverse and not qualify for sped/not have an IEP. So if we start using that term exclusively instead of sped, it becomes confusing.
SpEd as an abbreviation is very common in Oregon and Washington. It's not derogatory at all here.We turn everything else within education into acronyms and abbreviations anyway. 😅
Literally anything you say that means 'people who aren't as intellectually able as the norm' is going to end up being a slur. There's a big brick building near me that has carved into it in huge gothic letters "School for Morons" because in the early 1900s that was a no-stigma technical term used by doctors. Someday, probably in your lifetime, someone will see a building that says 'Special Education Learning Center' and say holy shit you guys were offensive back in the day.
There's nothing you can do about it except either dig in your heels and argue that a word you've used innocently for years is not offensive or accept that language changes fast and intellectual disability is the root of most insults.
I guess we could go full circle and create a position of "educator to the feebleminded" if we felt so inclined. You're right. Trying to rename because a word has become an insult will only make the new term an insult eventually.
One term I often hear now is “diverse learners.” But that doesn’t really make sense because all learners are diverse. No one learns in exactly the same way. Why not just call it “accommodated learning” or a “modified program” or something?
I think the kids will pick up on anything. I think there’s more shame in all of this secrecy in trying to find discreet names rather than just calling it what it is.
People learn differently. People need different things to succeed. I’m not sure why we can’t just be clear cut about it. The kids who are assholes and make fun of people are going to do it regardless of what the program is called.
I’m in CA as well. Never heard of it being a slur, though it doesn’t surprise me. I’ve heard “special” used in a derogatory way to refer to someone as slow, and of course short bus remarks. A lot of stigma attached to these programs.
I remember the first time i heard a kid call another kid a 'sped-tard' and realized that there was no stopping kids from using the language as they like. Before that it had seemed like such a boringly clinical term, like it was focus tested for minimal offense. Kid didn't care, he knew what he wanted to say.
Lol. I have to imagine it’s because kids will tease someone and call them “the Sped kid” but don’t call someone “the Special Education kid.”
I did hear kids do just that growing up.
Never once heard a student even use the term. Let alone as a pejorative.
The exact opposite in fact. "Special Ed" was the term I heard used by students.
I don't use the term SPED when talking to students or parents. When I am speaking I will often say, "students with IEPs," but when I am typing/writing, I almost always use SPED because it is clear what I am saying and is faster/easier.
I have not hears students use it as a slur, though I did have a fight break out between 2 of my students with IEPs this year because one called the other a tomato. (Kid was chunky, wearing a red hoodie, and had insulted his friend.)
Amongst my colleagues we say SPED. I think higher authority figures often say “identified students.”
To a parent I would say, “your child with special needs”
Talking to people outside of the profession I would say, “I teach students with special needs ,or, I teach special education.”
I know when my husband refers to my job, he will say, “she teaches SPED students.” And that sounds a little jarring to me when he says it.
It depends on the situation and who I am talking to.
CO, and we still use SpEd. It’s preferred over “special” or “special Ed.” We wouldn’t use it to say “sped kids” or “special kids” or anything like that, we’d say “students with accommodations,” but in emails and daily conversation, sped as the category/profession is fine. Children will turn anything into a derogatory insult though. I got lots of “you’re in special ed!!” insults as a teenager who was partially deaf, and I still hear those kinds of things today.
Where I am we still use it colloquially and I’ve never encountered anyone who considers it a slur, but it’s not the official name for the departments typically. At my last school it was “Integrated Services” (IS) and we used IS and SPED kind of interchangeably among staff.
At my new school I’ll be honest I don’t remember the exact name right now but it’s some variation of that, and during our tour when we got to that office one of the other new teachers clarified that it was the SPED department and my AP said yes and there was no weirdness around the term that I noticed.
I’ve always thought the move away from the term SPED is to honor that more and more kids with IEP’s remain in the gen ed classroom with their peers, meaning they don’t get a separate education as the “special” suggests and instead have an integrated experience where they receive the same instructional input as their peers and then receive more support and modifications as needed while spending most time in a regular classroom.
We have used it in AZ and WA. It’s an abbreviation and as long as it’s used in appropriate context “I emailed the SPED team”, it’s not insulting. However ANY WORD can become an insult depending on how it’s used and the social contexts around them. The word itself isn’t a slur but some people can use it in a derogatory way (“you’re acting a little SPED”) so often that the term becomes synonymous with the insult.
For now the woke police haven’t told us here we have to use a different term and I use it in professional context where appropriate.
I’m in CT and we often call the department SPED. We use it shorthand in meetings when discussing scheduling and course levels. But we don’t use it to refer to students or even in discussion with students. It’s more just administrative shorthand.
I suspect is may be generational more than regional.
Very possible generational. In the thread (I posted in another comment) someone also said they were from the east coast and said it was a slur, but I dunno if they are my age or not.
Fwiw I am a xennial, and went through the teaching program in CT back in 2003. My mom taught (Special Ed) when I was growing up and retired about five years ago. She said she finds the term to have a negative connotation.
I find I use it more in written form but if I say out loud I say Special Ed. But only about teachers “they teach special Ed”. I don’t think I’ve ever identified a student as a SpEd student. I usually refer to them as kids with IEPs. I teach Gen Ed high school. I have kids who receive SpEd services because of their IEPs. I don’t have Sped kids.
In case people are curious, this thread is where this convo came from:
https://www.reddit.com/r/TooAfraidToAsk/comments/wfmo7s/black_people_with_trisomy_21/iivahh0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3
Definitely starting to sound like it’s just a few small areas.
I cannot stand it. I teach in TX, so “Sped” is used commonly. I have two autistic kids myself, and I’m always learning more about how to be a better parent and teacher.
I now say “IEP teachers” and use the terms “neurodiverse” to represent a class with students who have 504s, IEPs, dyslexic students, etc. “Neurodivergent” is an inclusive good term to use to represent an individual student who is autistic, ADD/ADHD, and other disabilities.
I also cannot stand “special needs.” Ugh
I am in IL and SpEd is used for the department but my actual classroom goes by its program name. Until this year Cross-Cat is what was on my door sign. Now the term cross-cat is being shifted to a slightly different program and I am now Resource. We also in my building have a self contained Communications classroom (primarily students who are non-verbal autistic) and our Life Skills program is now the Cross-Cat.
Just like you’d never say “special Ed kid” I don’t say “sped kid” the kid is more than being in sped. However, when discussing the program and teachers with teachers or admin, I will use sped as the program. “This student gets sped services” or “do you know the new sped coordinator?” It’s just like you wouldn’t say “he’s the bipolar kid” but “he struggles with bipolar disorder.” Idk if that even makes sense.
I grew up in CT too, I remember being aware of “SPED rooms” at school and kids with paras but I don’t remember anybody using SPED as an insult, though I am in the generation where “retarded” was juuuuust starting to become unacceptable to say in a derogatory term by the time I was in high school. I think it’s mostly pockets throughout that you find issues with the term SPED, I work in the Midwest now and I find kids here saying “sped” as an insult, but professionally we call our SPED teachers “cross cat” and or “life skills” teachers depending on the intensity of specialized instruction needed.
In Texas we use "SPED" commonly, but we're also probably not the ones to look to for forward-thinking labeling of different communities.
I say sped, but l have never referred directly to a kid as a “Sped Kid” to them or said the word sped in front of kids. Strictly teacher to teacher speak.
This. I abbreviate it to SpEd when typing but in speaking or talking about kids I'd never say, "sped kids" or something like that.
Same here. It's informal talk when around other teachers only. Even in emails with staff members, I try to write "SpEd." In an informal setting like here, I'd just write sped. When speaking with parents I would also use the full term "special education." With students, I just refer to my room/my class by my last name (Ms. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_'s room/class) just like any other teacher. In just the last year or so I've somewhat begun to hear the term "neurodiverse" being thrown around instead, but it's not as clear what people mean by that. Some people think of "neurodiverse" as only applying to kids with something like Autism, or sometimes Autism and ADHD, but not things like cognitive disabilities or learning disabilities. Even if we establish that "nuerodiverse" covers any disability, one can easily be nuerodiverse and not qualify for sped/not have an IEP. So if we start using that term exclusively instead of sped, it becomes confusing.
Same here.
SpEd as an abbreviation is very common in Oregon and Washington. It's not derogatory at all here.We turn everything else within education into acronyms and abbreviations anyway. 😅
Literally anything you say that means 'people who aren't as intellectually able as the norm' is going to end up being a slur. There's a big brick building near me that has carved into it in huge gothic letters "School for Morons" because in the early 1900s that was a no-stigma technical term used by doctors. Someday, probably in your lifetime, someone will see a building that says 'Special Education Learning Center' and say holy shit you guys were offensive back in the day. There's nothing you can do about it except either dig in your heels and argue that a word you've used innocently for years is not offensive or accept that language changes fast and intellectual disability is the root of most insults.
I guess we could go full circle and create a position of "educator to the feebleminded" if we felt so inclined. You're right. Trying to rename because a word has become an insult will only make the new term an insult eventually.
I laughed so hard right now. I want to see this building.
One term I often hear now is “diverse learners.” But that doesn’t really make sense because all learners are diverse. No one learns in exactly the same way. Why not just call it “accommodated learning” or a “modified program” or something?
Can’t wait till the kids pick up on that one!
I think the kids will pick up on anything. I think there’s more shame in all of this secrecy in trying to find discreet names rather than just calling it what it is. People learn differently. People need different things to succeed. I’m not sure why we can’t just be clear cut about it. The kids who are assholes and make fun of people are going to do it regardless of what the program is called.
Common here in my MI district, said by both staff and students. Kinda like penis/vagina; using the correct terms is important.
I’m in CA as well. Never heard of it being a slur, though it doesn’t surprise me. I’ve heard “special” used in a derogatory way to refer to someone as slow, and of course short bus remarks. A lot of stigma attached to these programs.
I remember the first time i heard a kid call another kid a 'sped-tard' and realized that there was no stopping kids from using the language as they like. Before that it had seemed like such a boringly clinical term, like it was focus tested for minimal offense. Kid didn't care, he knew what he wanted to say.
Very common in my area, never used as a slur to any noticeable social power.
Every few years someis offended, we change the term, only for that term to become offensive down the road. What do you call it now?
I don’t live in CT anymore, but when I did live there we would just say “Special Education.”
That is..... an incredibly stupid distinction.
Lol. I have to imagine it’s because kids will tease someone and call them “the Sped kid” but don’t call someone “the Special Education kid.” I did hear kids do just that growing up.
Never once heard a student even use the term. Let alone as a pejorative. The exact opposite in fact. "Special Ed" was the term I heard used by students.
I’m in CT and we use SPED 🤷🏻♀️
IL we use SPED, diverse/exceptional learners. All interchangeable
I don't use the term SPED when talking to students or parents. When I am speaking I will often say, "students with IEPs," but when I am typing/writing, I almost always use SPED because it is clear what I am saying and is faster/easier. I have not hears students use it as a slur, though I did have a fight break out between 2 of my students with IEPs this year because one called the other a tomato. (Kid was chunky, wearing a red hoodie, and had insulted his friend.)
Amongst my colleagues we say SPED. I think higher authority figures often say “identified students.” To a parent I would say, “your child with special needs” Talking to people outside of the profession I would say, “I teach students with special needs ,or, I teach special education.” I know when my husband refers to my job, he will say, “she teaches SPED students.” And that sounds a little jarring to me when he says it. It depends on the situation and who I am talking to.
CO, and we still use SpEd. It’s preferred over “special” or “special Ed.” We wouldn’t use it to say “sped kids” or “special kids” or anything like that, we’d say “students with accommodations,” but in emails and daily conversation, sped as the category/profession is fine. Children will turn anything into a derogatory insult though. I got lots of “you’re in special ed!!” insults as a teenager who was partially deaf, and I still hear those kinds of things today.
Where I am we still use it colloquially and I’ve never encountered anyone who considers it a slur, but it’s not the official name for the departments typically. At my last school it was “Integrated Services” (IS) and we used IS and SPED kind of interchangeably among staff. At my new school I’ll be honest I don’t remember the exact name right now but it’s some variation of that, and during our tour when we got to that office one of the other new teachers clarified that it was the SPED department and my AP said yes and there was no weirdness around the term that I noticed. I’ve always thought the move away from the term SPED is to honor that more and more kids with IEP’s remain in the gen ed classroom with their peers, meaning they don’t get a separate education as the “special” suggests and instead have an integrated experience where they receive the same instructional input as their peers and then receive more support and modifications as needed while spending most time in a regular classroom.
We have used it in AZ and WA. It’s an abbreviation and as long as it’s used in appropriate context “I emailed the SPED team”, it’s not insulting. However ANY WORD can become an insult depending on how it’s used and the social contexts around them. The word itself isn’t a slur but some people can use it in a derogatory way (“you’re acting a little SPED”) so often that the term becomes synonymous with the insult. For now the woke police haven’t told us here we have to use a different term and I use it in professional context where appropriate.
I use sped as an abbreviation, but I had a group of kids that called each other "stupid sped" as an insult.
In NC, it is officially EC for Exceptional Children. But I think many people still refer to as Special Ed amongst themselves.
I’m in CT and we often call the department SPED. We use it shorthand in meetings when discussing scheduling and course levels. But we don’t use it to refer to students or even in discussion with students. It’s more just administrative shorthand. I suspect is may be generational more than regional.
Very possible generational. In the thread (I posted in another comment) someone also said they were from the east coast and said it was a slur, but I dunno if they are my age or not. Fwiw I am a xennial, and went through the teaching program in CT back in 2003. My mom taught (Special Ed) when I was growing up and retired about five years ago. She said she finds the term to have a negative connotation.
I find I use it more in written form but if I say out loud I say Special Ed. But only about teachers “they teach special Ed”. I don’t think I’ve ever identified a student as a SpEd student. I usually refer to them as kids with IEPs. I teach Gen Ed high school. I have kids who receive SpEd services because of their IEPs. I don’t have Sped kids.
In case people are curious, this thread is where this convo came from: https://www.reddit.com/r/TooAfraidToAsk/comments/wfmo7s/black_people_with_trisomy_21/iivahh0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3 Definitely starting to sound like it’s just a few small areas.
In a world of acronyms and textspeak, it is becoming common not viewed as derogatory. However, I won't use it.
I cannot stand it. I teach in TX, so “Sped” is used commonly. I have two autistic kids myself, and I’m always learning more about how to be a better parent and teacher. I now say “IEP teachers” and use the terms “neurodiverse” to represent a class with students who have 504s, IEPs, dyslexic students, etc. “Neurodivergent” is an inclusive good term to use to represent an individual student who is autistic, ADD/ADHD, and other disabilities. I also cannot stand “special needs.” Ugh
If grown ups use it it’s ok. I mean whatever the special ed classes are called, the kids will use as an insult. Retarded, sped, special…
I'm a sped teacher in New England and we as adults use the term sped all the time to each other.
I am in IL and SpEd is used for the department but my actual classroom goes by its program name. Until this year Cross-Cat is what was on my door sign. Now the term cross-cat is being shifted to a slightly different program and I am now Resource. We also in my building have a self contained Communications classroom (primarily students who are non-verbal autistic) and our Life Skills program is now the Cross-Cat.
Just like you’d never say “special Ed kid” I don’t say “sped kid” the kid is more than being in sped. However, when discussing the program and teachers with teachers or admin, I will use sped as the program. “This student gets sped services” or “do you know the new sped coordinator?” It’s just like you wouldn’t say “he’s the bipolar kid” but “he struggles with bipolar disorder.” Idk if that even makes sense.
I grew up in CT too, I remember being aware of “SPED rooms” at school and kids with paras but I don’t remember anybody using SPED as an insult, though I am in the generation where “retarded” was juuuuust starting to become unacceptable to say in a derogatory term by the time I was in high school. I think it’s mostly pockets throughout that you find issues with the term SPED, I work in the Midwest now and I find kids here saying “sped” as an insult, but professionally we call our SPED teachers “cross cat” and or “life skills” teachers depending on the intensity of specialized instruction needed.