Noa is special because she's a special needs friend. She requires constant special emotional support.
Every time someone says “special” in this sense, it reminds me of the series Malcolm in the Middle.
Teacher: “Ma'am, your son is special and will be placed in a specialized class”. Mom: “My son may talk too much and be annoying, but he is not ret****d”.
I don't know if that dialogue would pass script review today.
Oh, and in the context of the teacher, she was referring to very intelligent.