What does it mean when a child has "special needs"?

What does it mean when a child has "special needs"?

Jennifer Perry (Executive Director, Children's Action Network) gives expert video advice on: Am I ever too old to adopt?; Do siblings get adopted together? and more...

“Special needs” is an extremely broad term, used to refer oftentimes to specific characteristics of children who may be in the foster care system. In some instances it's far too broad because it covers everything from the fact that the child may be in a group of sibling and may be harder to place, that the child may or may not have a disability, that the child may be older. So the term really covers probably too many criteria, and I think can sometimes be off-putting for people beginning the adoptive process. There are many, many kids who are special needs who flourish, who are defined as “special needs” under that broad term, and who flourish. And if you saw them a year or 2 later after they've been defined as such, you would never apply the term to them.