Q.Does the principle of considering the special needs of people conflict with the principle of equal treatment for all?

At first glance, giving some people special treatment might look inconsistent with treating everyone equally. But the chapter explains why the two ideas actually work together, not against each other. …

At first glance, treating people according to their special needs — such as disability, age, or lack of access to health or education — might look like unequal treatment, since it means not giving everyone exactly the same thing. But the chapter's point is that the principle of equal treatment is about giving each person equal basic rights and status as a human being, and about not discriminating between people; it does not mean giving everyone the literally identical resources or facilities regardless of their circumstances. If people with special needs — physical disability, for instance — are treated in exactly the same way as everyone else, ignoring their genuine circumstances, the actual outcome would be an unequal, unjust society, because these people would continue to be disadvantaged relative to others. …