AIPD's School Observatory offers a practical handbook for families and educators.
AIPD (Italian Association for Down Syndrome) has long provided expert guidance through its School Observatory on the inclusion of students with Down syndrome—and other disabilities—in mainstream schools. Drawing on years of experience, AIPD has created a new Guide to School Inclusion and made it freely available online for anyone to download. The digital format makes it easy to access whenever you need it, giving families and educators a handy reference for navigating the complexities of school support.
Below we highlight the main points. For full details, download the complete guide.
WORKING GROUPS FOR SCHOOL INCLUSION – When a school has students with disabilities or special educational needs (BES), it must establish GLHO, GLH, or GLI working groups. These teams oversee each student's inclusion pathway, meeting regularly to assess progress and plan activities.
REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS – The guide explains how to obtain and submit the certifications needed for school support—whether for students with Down syndrome or other disabilities. These must go to the school (at initial enrollment), the municipality (for an Individual Education Plan), and the health authority's multidisciplinary evaluation unit (for a Functioning Profile).
THE ROLE OF SCHOOL STAFF – Teaching and support staff are at the heart of the school's work. The guide outlines the responsibilities of the headmaster, class teachers, mainstream teachers, and support teachers. It also covers school assistants, who handle personal hygiene support for students with disabilities. The guide notes too the roles of outside professionals—provided by municipalities or regional authorities—who work on communication, socialization, and independence skills.
EVALUATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES – The guide addresses grading and assessment. In primary school, students cannot be held back unless the entire class council—including the headmaster—unanimously votes to do so, with detailed written justification. The guide clarifies when disabled students earn a diploma and explains the rules for national standardized tests (INVALSI).
CLASS SIZE, FIELD TRIPS, AND TRANSPORTATION – How many students with certified disabilities can a class hold? The guide covers class formation rules: no more than 20 students total when one or more have a certified disability.
It also provides practical information on free school transportation (provided by the municipality or region) and school outings and field trips.
Source: Disabili.com
===CORPO===