Other specific developmental disorders
The Ministerial Directive of 27 December 2012 also takes into account other specific developmental disorders (which are not included in Law 104 and Law 170), such as deficits in language, non-verbal abilities and motor co-ordination, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or other situations that may seriously limit the pupil’s daily activities, like borderline intellectual functioning or mild autism spectrum disorder without comorbidity.
The competent offices of the national health system diagnose specific developmental disorders and the pupil’s family submits the relevant documentation to the school.
Socio-economic, linguistic and cultural disadvantage
Local authorities provide social services, together with non-governmental organisations or associations in the field. Schools and social care services collaborate in order to identify and manage situations of socio-economic disadvantage and to prevent problems in developmental age. For example, the role of teachers is crucial to identify suspected situations of neglect, abuse or violence. In these cases, the school (through the principal) should invite the family to contact social services. If the family fails to do so, the school can make a referral to the social care service.
Linguistic disadvantage is mostly related to recent migration. During the initial period of integration, the school assesses the foreign student’s language knowledge. It then organises Italian classes according to their level.