Definitions of Support Needs: An Analysis and Call for Clarity

Terms related to disabilities change over time, evolving in response to changing social conventions. Currently, there is a shift toward emphasizing level of supports needed to maximize independence for individuals with disabilities, using terms such as extensive support needs (ESN), significant support needs (SSN), and complex support needs (CSN). Although changes in terminology might be perceived more positively because of increased emphasis on capabilities, they can result in confusion regarding for whom research is relevant when these terms are not defined or are used inconsistently. This article presents an analysis of ESN, SSN, and CSN in current research by examining research reviews using these terms. The results indicated that definitions varied but focused on traditional characteristics, such as disability type, IQ scores, and etiology. When there was an attempt to shift away from traditional characteristics focusing on eligibility for a state’s alternate assessment, there was no acknowledgment of wide variability in eligibility criteria across states. Similarly, when there was a focus on support needs, it was without reference to how supports were defined, what they were, or how they were determined. This lack of definitional clarity results in a call for specificity and consistency in using ESN, SSN, and CSN.