Kristian Myre

• Myre, Kristian (2026). Contested Special Needs Terminology. In Snipstad, Øyvind Ibrahim Marøy & Hvidsten, Bente I. Borthne (Ed.), Navigating Contested Perspectives in Special Education. Routledge. ISSN 9781003652656. p. 90–105. doi: 10.4324/9781003652656-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This chapter explores the evolution of disability and special needs terminology, tracing its development through key international documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It highlights how shifts in language aim to promote dignity and inclusion, yet often face challenges such as loss of precision. By employing Bloom and Lahey's (1978) language model, the chapter examines how the form, content, and use of terms are interconnected and how changing a term does not necessarily rid it of previous negative connotations. This links to the concept of the “euphemism treadmill” which illustrates how societal discomfort with disability leads to the repeated replacement of terms without addressing underlying biases. Cultural differences in disability and special needs terminology are explored through examples from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, revealing tensions between clear communication and political correctness. The chapter underscores the importance of retaining clear and effective language while advocating for societal acceptance of disability as a natural part of human diversity. Ultimately, it argues that focusing on reducing stigma, avoiding categorisation, and fostering inclusion is more impactful than perpetually modifying terminology.

• Øien, Roald A.; Myre, Kristian; Pettersen, Anja Helen; Brandlistuen, Ragnhild Eek; Schjølberg, Synnve & Nordahl-Hansen, Anders [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Early predictors of pragmatic language competence: A longitudinal study. Research in Developmental Disabilities. ISSN 0891-4222. 167, p. 105157–105157. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105157. Full text in Research Archive

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