The disabled students of Sardinia and their families, thanks to the associations that represent them, have won their battle: they will be able to attend high schools followed by their educators thanks to the allocation of funds unanimously decided by the regional council which will cover all hours that were missing. The assembly unanimously, with an urgent procedure, resolved to run 6.5 million per year for three years, for a total fund that will become 58.5 million for the three-year period (an increase of 19, 5).
Thousands of children with disabilities of all kinds were thus guaranteed a fundamental right: the right to study.
At the beginning of the school year the problem had emerged in all its gravity: provinces and metropolitan cities did not have the money to pay the educators necessary to follow hundreds of disabled children enrolled in high school. The only solution was to try to guarantee assistance, but with reduced hours for everyone. Consequence: many had stopped attending, because they had no reference points. Others begged to regress. A disaster, in short.
After the protests of parents and associations, with the ABC in the lead (Association of brain-damaged children), the Metropolitan City of Cagliari and the Province of Sassari had launched an appeal to the Region: we do not have the money, the children are many and they are increasing more and more , resources are needed.
The regional councilor for education, Andrea Biancareddu, moved to give answers. In agreement with his colleague Giuseppe Fasolino, he prepared a provision worth 6.6 million a year to cover the shortcomings of the next three years.
The law was brought to the court with an urgent procedure and was approved by the entire regional council.
“Our first thought”, comments Francesca Palmas, head of the ABC School and spokesperson for the associations including Fish Sardegna and Diversamente Odv, “is for pupils with disabilities, who will have guaranteed their right to inclusion in public schools . The increase in pupils with disabilities who go to school is a source of pride for all of us and for Sardinian institutions ", he explains," for this reason an immediate integration of the funds necessary to be used to program the necessary organizational support was requested. in favor of pupils and students with disabilities, to allow their full inclusion in schools of all levels and to avoid serious discrimination ".
(Unioneonline / EF)