Italy faces challenges in disability support for students

Italy faces significant challenges regarding educational support for students with disabilities as the new school year approaches. Nationally, approximately 400,000 students with disabilities are returning to classrooms, yet the National Guarantor for Persons with Disabilities, led by Maurizio Borgo, reports insufficient and non-specialized support. Key issues include a shortage of support hours, a lack of specialized training for 20% of support teachers, and a lack of continuity, with 50% of students changing teachers every year. Additionally, only 40% of Italian schools are considered fully accessible to students with motor disabilities.

In Palermo, local concerns are mounting. The association ‘I Diritti dei Più Fragili APS’ has raised alarms regarding the ASACOM service, noting that at least 266 students may lack necessary support. The association criticized the municipal administration for late operator convocations, which occur too close to the start of lessons, and demanded transparency regarding the number of eligible students, operator training, and the recovery of missed service hours.