The stuff that… uh-huh… Mila says

Mila:  Momma, Niko is over a year old.  Don't you think it's time that we teach her how to walk?
Me:  Well, I don't think that Niko will ever walk.  She' special.
Mila (frowning):  So I'm not special?
Me:  You are very special.  Niko is special too.  She is special-needs.

Later that afternoon…
Me:  Mila, we are about to meet momma's very good friend.  She is very special!
Mila:  Ah.. special-needs?

In fact, anytime I mention the word special now, she wants me to specify if something is special or special-needs.  How do I know exactly the level of appropriate information to explain to a four year old?  I don't want her to go around asking if everyone is special-needs.  We might end up walking out of many rooms with our tails between our legs.  However to hide everything about Niko is to set Mila up for big disappointment in the near future, and perhaps severe emotional damage.  What I am certain about is that Mila should understand that Niko is different.

Handbook of Discussing Difficult Topics With Young Children, where are you?