Disability is not immunity, but sanctions must be appropriate to the student’s situation and disciplinary action is not recommended when there is a serious cognitive delay that prevents understanding the gesture and the function of the “punishment”. This, in essence, is the principle that should be taken into consideration when dealing with a case like the one that happened at the “Manzoni-Dina e Clarenza” school in Messina, where a student, with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder with a functioning level of 3 (severe) was suspended for having touched a classmate in the private parts. A trauma, let’s be clear. For which the child – being aware of what she has suffered – must be protected and has the right to all the necessary support from the school institution. But without an upheaval, either to the legislation on inclusion, or to common sense. Because a level of disability that requires the presence of four figures to support the student (support teacher, asacom, educator and sanitary assistant) is clearly indicative of a condition, ascertained by a diagnosis, which leaves no doubt about the real ability both to understand the severity of the episode and to metabolise and “educate” oneself.
The Childhood and Disability guarantors of the Municipality of Messina, Giovanni Amante and Giacoma De Maria, intervened on the episode and in a joint note appeal to the Management and ask to revoke the suspension and review the case, but also to convene a meeting with the family, GLO and specialized personnel to prepare educational interventions and accompanying strategies, not sanctions, guaranteeing full protection of the pupil’s dignity and right to inclusion.
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