STUDENTS OF DETERMINATION ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION

The term "special needs" or "special education" has long been used to refer to students with disabilities in the K-12 US school system. However, this terminology has been criticized for implying that these students are somehow "less than" or "not normal." As a result, some schools and districts have begun using the term "students of determination" instead. This term is intended to convey a sense of resilience, strength, and perseverance and to shift the focus away from the students' deficits and onto their abilities. This paper aims to discuss how and why the name of students with disabilities be changed from special students to students of determination in the K 12 US school system and how to effectively include students of determination in the general classroom and the community.