Special Needs Education in Zürich, Switzerland

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Special Needs Education in Zürich, Switzerland

General compulsory education applies to children and young people with visual and hearing impairments, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental retardation, speech disorders, and behavioural disorders. Special types of schooling are provided to children and young people who cannot meet the usual school standards or who need special educational programs to do so.

Integration and inclusion of disabled children in regular schools is increasing in Switzerland, and at local and cantonal levels there are more integrated schooling practices.

In Switzerland there are about 100 centres for early childhood special education, which are sponsored not only by associations and foundations but also by communes and cantons.

• Comprehensive information is available from The Swiss Education Website

Cantons are responsible for special-needs schooling. Special-needs schooling includes:

• Schools that are subsidised by invalidity insurance (schools for mentally impaired children and young people, schools for the physically disabled, behaviourally disordered, hearing impaired, speech impaired, visually handicapped, and chronically ill children and young people)
• Special needs classes, which are closely linked to the regular school (introductory classes, at the lower secondary level, among others)
• Outpatient special-needs guidance counselling, and therapy facilities (special-needs educational supportive instruction, individual special-needs instruction, help with lessons; speech therapy and the treatment of dyslexia; therapeutic exercise; school psychological counselling, among others).

The Swiss Institute for Special Education has further information available in French and German.

• Swiss Institute for Special Education 
  At: 25 Chemin de Boston, 1004 Lausanne
  Tel: 021 653 68 77
  e-mail 
  Website

Special Needs Education Assessments

An application must be made for special-needs education in Switzerland. This can be done by the parents, teachers, physicians or school psychological services. The case of a child is assessed and a determination made. At the moment there are no uniform regulations in Switzerland governing the decision as to whether a child will attend special-needs school or a regular school; cantonal school authorities make the final decision on whether special needs schooling is appropriate.

Special Needs Associations in Zürich

ASK -All Special Kids: ASK is a Geneva-based network for families with special-needs children. It can provide information relating to special-needs issues and assistance to newcomers. Monthly support meetings are organised in Berne, Geneva and Vaud and thematic workshops for parenting a special-needs child are hosted. The group focusses on helping anglophone families but can also help families of other nationalities.

• ASK – All Special Kids 
  e-mail
  Website

Associations for parents and children with ADHD (Psycho-Organisches Syndrom - POS, and Aufmerksamkeits-Defizit-Hyperaktivitäts-Störung - ADHS) can be found throughout Switzerland. They can provide information and support to parents of children with hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder and can help to find appropriate therapies and treatments.

• For a list of support groups in Switzerland: Click here

Elpos Zürich: A support group for parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

• Elpos Zürich
  At: Hellen-Kellerstrasse 55, 8051 Zürich
  Tel: 044 321 10 82
  e-mail
  Website (in German)

IG-ADS: An association providing support and advice to adults with ADHD. Discussion groups, workshops and consultations are organised regularly.

• IG-ADS
  Tel: 034 424 03 46
  Open: Monday 10:30-11:30 and Thursday 19:30-20:30
  e-mail

Autism Suisse: A Swiss association for parents of autistic children.

• Autism Suisse
  At: 91 rue de Lausanne, 1700 Fribourg
  Tel: 026 321 36 11
  Website (in French, German and Italian)

Insieme: An association of parents and friends of the mentally disabled.

• Insieme Schweiz
  At: Aarbergergasse 33, Postfach 6819, 3001 Berne
  Tel: 031 300 50 20
  Fax: 031 300 50 21
  e-mail
  Website (in French and German)

Hilfe für hirnverletzte Kinder: An association for families with children suffering from brain damage or illnesses. It assists members with accomplishing everyday tasks with their children, finding assistance and support groups, and also organises family outings and days out for children.

• Hilfe für hirnverletzte Kinder
  At: Mühlebachstrasse 43, 8008 Zürich
  Tel: 044 252 54 54
  e-mail 
  Website

Sports Associations

Plusport: This umbrella organisation for disabled sports in Switzerland offers a variety of sports for the disabled and children are welcome. Their aim is to promote the integration of those with disabilities through sports activities. The website has information on sports clubs in Switzerland, sports events for the disabled and sports camps.

• Plusport website

Related Information

• For a comprehensive list of schools and institutions in all Swiss cantons: Click here (in German)
• Swiss Education website
• Swiss Institute for Special Education 
• Federal Invalidity Insurance Law (in German)

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