Children with a medical condition right to education

Abstract

In Italy and Europe there are several law bills aimed at guaranteeing the right to an educa- tion of children and adolescents with a medical condition, however their daily pursuance turns out to be difficult. Schooling is known to in- fluence a wide range of economic, social and psychological aspects of people’s life, but chil- dren with medical needs are subject to school failure more often than their healthy peers. The aim of this paper is to review different school options available to children and families for the education of children with medical needs. Hospital school, home tuition and mainstream school re-entry are examined. Critical aspects for each type of solution are discussed. In or- der to prevent long-term consequences of ill- nesses and therapies, the provision and stabili- ty of adequate educational opportunities for children with medical needs represents a cru- cial area of collaboration between doctors, educators and parents.