SCHOOL INTEGRATION

In Italy the relative legislation is more advanced than others': it goes back in fact to 1977, with the Law 517, the abolition of 'special' classes. Disabled children find themselves, most of the time studying in mainstream schools: unfortunately this does not guarantee their integration.

In this context, infomation technology can be useful in overcoming some aspects of disability, particularly in two ways:

• utilising "EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE", addressed to those with learning difficulties, making sure use is documented, verifying its accessibility and capacity to meet the users'needs. (see projects: "RESEARCH-ACTION").

• Developing a training activity oriented towards teachers, towards rendering them increasingly independent in the use of access tools available to them (see project: "CIGNO (SWAN)").

At the same time, experience teaches us that there are no solutions that are the same for everybody but that every single person needs the studying of a specific project towards reducing disability and the use of what is most valid and useful, not only educationally but in a rehabilitational sense as well.

From here starts ASPHI's project STEP, the centre for technological support and disabled person education, born to give consultancy and training services about access technologies in educational environments.