In the United States, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For example, Children with autism, Down syndrome, dyslexia, blindness, or cystic fibrosis, may be considered to have special needs.
According to the Census Bureau from 2005, about one in five U.S. residents, 19% of Americans (54.4 million) are classified as a person with a disability, which equals the population of the states of FL and CA combined. Out of this population, there were 4.7 million children 6 to 14, or 13 percent, with a disability. The most prevalent type was difficulty doing regular schoolwork (2.5 million, or 7 percent). Both the number and percentage of Americans with a disability has risen in recent years.
With this continually growing population of children, more effective therapies need to be developed and shared. Early intervention has been key to the child’s development into society.