I woke up this morning to listen to one of the oddest news stories I’ve ever heard. When reported in the UK’s Daily Mail it started with a headline “Headteacher is accused of hate crime after saying autistic pupil had ‘special needs’.

In essentials Miss Jane Filkin, who is the headmistress of a school in the South of England, was accused of “hate crime” for referring to one of students as having special needs because of their autism diagnosis. You can read up the full story here.

Now the lady was exonerated (thankfully) but it did get me thinking about the whole issue.

I use the term special needs all the time. But is it a hate crime to use such a phrase?

What do you think?

A couple of things would help. Firstly please can you you take part in our poll below. Secondly it would be great if you could share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thanks very much in advance.