Minister Locatelli: autonomy and communication, fund increases from €200 million to €288 million

ROME, 1 OCT - An agreement has been reached at the Unified Conference on the ministerial decree allocating resources to Municipalities and Regions for assistants supporting the autonomy and communication of students with disabilities. The announcement was made by Minister for Disabilities Alessandra Locatelli.

“For the third consecutive year, the overall allocation has increased, rising from €200 million to €288 million,” Minister Locatelli explained. “This is another step forward in guaranteeing the right to education and the inclusion of students with disabilities. We are once again increasing resources and, above all, introducing new tools that will make it possible to plan with greater certainty and continuity. This is an important result for families, students, local authorities and everyone who works every day to make schools truly inclusive.”

For the first time, the allocation of resources will be planned on a three-year basis. The programme also includes a safeguard for 2027, ensuring that at least 85% of the resources allocated in 2026 will be maintained, even in the event of a decrease in the number of students with disabilities.

“Three-year planning means providing greater stability for public administrations and enabling Regions and Municipalities to organise services over a longer time horizon,” Minister Locatelli continued. “Another new development is the establishment, for the first time, of a service objective for assistance with autonomy and communication. This is a significant step in the process that will lead, in 2028, to the transition to the Essential Levels of Services, known as LEP.”

From next year, moreover, the fund is expected to become part of the autonomy framework agreed with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, with the related resources transferred directly to the Regions, which will be responsible for managing and planning these services within their respective areas of competence.