Students with disabilities have the right to go to school – ETR

This is the time of the year 

when many children and teenagers go back to school 

for the new term. 

Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen 

for many children with intellectual disabilities.  

Many children with intellectual disabilities in Europe 

don’t find a school that wants to accept them. 

Some of them have to go to special schools 

or attend lessons for less time. 

In countries like France and Ireland 

organisations and parents of children with intellectual disabilities  

are starting to speak up.  

But there’s still a long way to go. 

Other countries, for example Romania 

don’t do much 

for children with intellectual disabilities. 

In Romania, many children with intellectual disabilities: 

• can’t go to school 
• have to go to a special school 

These special schools are terrible places to go. 

Children with intellectual disabilities there are often: 

• humiliated
• beaten 
• abused

Children with intellectual disabilities face problems 

also in other countries 

when it comes to education. 

In Norway, Finland and Lithuania 

they often can’t go to the school 

which is closer to their house. 

They have to go to a special school 

and be far away from their family. 

Jyrki Pinomaa is the President of Inclusion Europe. 

He said that children with intellectual disabilities 

have the right to go to school 

and to receive an education. 

This is stated in the UN CRPD. 

Inclusion Europe asks to ensure  

that children with intellectual disabilities 

can go to school 

and receive an education.