Special Needs Education in Switzerland

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Special Needs Education in Switzerland

General compulsory education applies also 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.

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 available from The Swiss Education Website

The 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: +41 (0)21 653 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 decision 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; it's the cantonal school authorities which make the final decision on whether special needs schooling is appropriate.

Special Needs Associations in Geneva, Vaud & Neuchâtel

For information on special needs education contact:

• Service Médico Pédagogique
  At: 16-18 Bd St Georges, 1205 Geneva
  Tel: +41 (0)22 327 43 91
• Service de l'enseignement specialisé et de l'appui à la formation
  At: Bâtiment administratif de la Pontaise, 1014 Lausanne
  Tel: +41 (0)21 316 54 00
• Service de l'enseignement obligatoire
  At: 67 rue de l'Ecluse, 2000 Neuchatel
  Tel: +41 (0)32 889 69 20

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 in the region and assistance to newcomers. Monthly support meetings are organised and thematic workshops for parenting a special needs child. The group focussing on helping anglophone families but can also help families of other nationalties.

• ASK – All Special Kids 
  e-mail
  Website

ASPEDAH

Association Suisse Romande de Parents d'Enfants Avec Déficit d'Attention et/ou Hyperactivité (ASPEDAH) is an association which provides information and support to parents of children with hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder. It can help to find appropriate therapies and treatments

• ASPEDAH
  At: 18 rue du Nugnon, 1005 Lausanne
  Tel: +41 (0)21 703 24 20
  Website (in French)

Autism Suisse

A Swiss association for parents of autistic children.

• Autism Suisse
  At: 91 rue de Lausanne, 1700 Fribourg
  Tel: +41 (0)26 321 36 11
  Website (in French, German and Italian)

Fondation le Cube de Verre

Support and activity group for parents of autistic children. The association can provide advice on resources that are available for children with autism.

• Fondation le Cube de Verre
  At: 1 rue de la Gare, 1197 Prangins
  Tel: +41 (0)22 367 26 24
  Website (in French)

Insieme

Association of parents and friends of the mentally disabled. (Websites in French only).

• Insieme Genève
  At: 7 rue de la Gabelle, 1227 Carouge
  Tel: +41 (0)22 343 17 20
  e-mail
  Website 
• Insieme Vaud
  At: 26 chemin de Malley, 1007 Lausanne
  Tel: +41 (0)21 341 04 20
  Website 
• Insieme Neuchâtel
  At: 28 avenue L Robert, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds
  Tel: +41 (0)32 926 85 60
  e-mail 
  Website 

Association Genevoise d'Insertion Sociale

The aim of this association is to promote the insertion of the physically and mentally disabled, they can provide voluntary helpers for disabled children.

• Association Genevoise d'Insertion Sociale
  At: 33 rue Eugène Marziano, 1227 Les Acacias
  Tel: +41 (0)22 308 98 10
  Website (in French)

Fondation de Vernand

Association for schooling and special needs education working with over 30 different schools in Geneva and Vaud.

• Fondation de Vernand
  At: 5 chemin de Praz Lau
  Tel: +41 (0)21 731 94 11
  e-mail 
  Website (in French)

Service Médico Pédagogique

Centre providing help and advice to adolescents and children suffering from psychological and behavioural problems as well as speech impediments.

• Service Médico Pédagogique
  At: 16-18 bd St Georges, 1205 Geneva
  Tel: +41 (0)22 327 43 91

Handisport Genève

Handisport offer a variety of sports to the disabled and children are welcome in all activities. Sports available include: basketball, swimming, skiing, waterskiing, tennis, sailing, archery, horse riding and table tennis

• Handisport Genève
  At: 54 rue du Village, 1214 Vernier
  Tel: +41 (0)21 341 43 00
  Website (in French)

FEDEA (Fondation pour l'Education des Enfants Autistes) School

Private school for children with autism, providing kindergarten, primary and secondary schooling in English and French.

• FEDEA 
  At: 2 rue du Pont Neuf, 1110 Morges
  Tel: +41 (0)21 803 62 30
  Fax: +41 (0)21 803 62 37
  e-mail 
  Website 

Oak Hill School

Half-day programme for children with diagnosed learning disabilities or attention deficit disorders. Classes are in English.

• Oak Hill School
  At: 31 Chemin de Précossy, 1260 Nyon
  Tel: +41 (0)22 354 01 40
  Fax: +41 (0)22 354 0141
  e-mail
  Website

Further Information

• Swiss Education website
• Swiss Institute for Special Education 
• Federal Invalidity Insurance Law (in French)

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