Three Little Words
A Qualitative Exploration of Special Educational Needs and its Hidden Deceit
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21206396 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Alan Hodkinson (0000-0002-1412-7083, Liverpool Hope University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 260-273 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Review of Qualitative Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1940-8447 • E-ISSN: 1940-8455 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/19408447241282102 |
| OpenAlex | W4402376912 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 18 |
Within this article, the often-used phrase of Special Educational Needs (SENs) is examined by pivoting upon three points of analysis. These being: its history, its definition, and its possible futures. This analysis reveals the hidden deceit contained within the lexicon, history, and the present performative acts of SEN. It is argued that SEN is haunted by the ghost of extant discourse and practices, namely, those of special needs. To move forward and to actually support children labelled with SEN, it is argued that extant discourses and practices must be allowed to pass into history, that a rights discourse should displace the ableist discourse of needs and that governments, all over the world, should listen to, hear, and act upon the voices of those labelled as SEN
Cognitive science · Communication · Education Discipline and Inequality · Educational and Psychological Assessments · Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare · Psychology
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |