Disability rights in Italy face transport delays and new legal rulings

In Italy, legal and administrative developments are impacting support systems for students with disabilities. In Foggia, the M. E. D. A. (Movimento Europeo Diversamente Abili) and Puzzle d’Amore APS/ETS have raised concerns regarding delayed reimbursements for school transport for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic years. Despite a liquidation act published in August, families have yet to receive funds, forcing them to advance costs for essential services. The associations have announced a formal request for access to documents and are prepared to issue a collective warning and report the matter to the regional Court of Auditors if payments are not credited within seven days.

Separately, a ruling by the TAR Lazio (No. 13960) is set to influence the national special education system. The court clarified the distinction between standard support and 'intensive support' for students with severe disabilities, noting that intensive support requires permanent and global assistance. The ruling emphasized that the right to a support teacher is a constitutional guarantee that cannot be financially conditioned by budget constraints. Additionally, the court clarified the '1:1 ratio' principle, specifying it refers to the student's school presence hours rather than a direct one-to-one student-to-teacher ratio.