disabled► disabled someone who is disabled cannot use a part of their body, for example their legs or their arms: · David goes to a special school for disabled children.· Her son is disabled and she has to take care of him all the time.the disabled: · The governor has guaranteed health care for pregnant women, preschool children, and the disabled.disabled toilets/parking etc (=for disabled people)
► handicapped someone who is handicapped has serious difficulty using part of their body or mind: · She works with handicapped teenagers.mentally handicapped (=handicapped in the mind): · a school for mentally handicapped children
► special needs people with special needs need different teaching methods, special equipment etc because they are physically or mentally disabled: have special needs/with special needs: · a school for children with special needs
► learning difficulties people with learning difficulties have difficulty learning at the same rate as most other people: · He's studying to teach children who have learning difficulties.