Life ‘I am not ashamed’: Disability advocates, experts implore you to stop saying ‘special needs’ June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 David Oliver, USA TODAY Comments Off on ‘I am not ashamed’: Disability advocates, experts implore you to stop saying ‘special needs’ Many experts and advocates vehemently oppose the term "special needs," and say that avoiding the term "disabled" only leads to further stigmatization.