Dr Jenny Corbett, Department of Education and Community Studies, University of East London, looks at the way in which the language used in relation to special educational needs has changed and evolved since the 1960s, taking articles published in the predecessor to theBJSEover 25 years ago, as examples. Vocabulary, images and attitudes are discussed in the context of political correctness and its impact on behaviour. This is a stimulating introduction to a theme which calls for further study.