TAR Lazio ruling transforms disability support system

A ruling by the TAR Lazio is set to transform the support system for students with disabilities in Italy. According to the court's decision, a distinction must be made between standard support and 'intensive support.' Intensive support is designated for students with severe disabilities whose loss of autonomy requires permanent, continuous, and global assistance.

The court reaffirmed the constitutional principle that the right to a support teacher is an inalienable right that cannot be restricted by budgetary constraints. Furthermore, the ruling clarified the 1:1 ratio principle, specifying that it refers to the student's weekly school hours (ranging from 27 to 40 hours depending on the level of education) rather than a direct one-to-one ratio of students to teachers.