Spanish families face high costs due to lack of inclusive education support

A study conducted by the University of Salamanca and promoted by the confederation Plena inclusión España reveals that eight out of ten families with children with intellectual or developmental disabilities in Spain must use their own time and money to compensate for a lack of public resources in inclusive education.

The report, based on surveys from over one thousand families, highlights an “enormous economic and time burden” on households. Specifically, 67.3% of surveyed families report dedicating time or financial resources every day to supplement tasks or subjects their children cannot complete in class, while another 15% do so frequently. Families of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report the greatest difficulties in obtaining adequate schooling.

This research arrives following the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training's presentation of a strategic plan for inclusive education. Plena inclusión has called for this plan to be supported by sufficient economic resources to ensure that the right to inclusive education does not depend on the extra effort of families.