Palermo approves new disability assistance regulations for students

The Palermo City Council has approved amendments to the regulations governing specialized assistance services for the autonomy and communication of students with disabilities (Asacom). The new rules aim to improve service efficiency and reduce delays that have previously impacted families.

Key changes include a mandatory requirement for assistant convocations to occur at least ten days before the start of school activities to ensure service availability from the beginning of the academic year. Additionally, the regulation introduces greater flexibility for the rescheduling of unused assistance hours within the same month. These hours can be redistributed in accordance with Individualized Educational Plans (PEI) to support activities such as school trips or specific classroom projects.

While the majority of the council views the move as a significant step forward for school inclusion, opposition groups noted that challenges remain. Specifically, they highlighted the need for national legislative intervention to address the economic conditions of professionals, noting that hourly compensation has remained stagnant for over a decade.