Deaf, blind, low-vision or physical disability: school support and specialist services

Terms used

• Dictamen de escolarización — The dictamen de escolarización is the report on your child's educational needs that the regional guidance team issues and that opens access to special support.
• ONCE — ONCE is the national organisation for people with sight loss, which provides educational and other services to its affiliates.
• Centro preferente motórico — A centro preferente motórico is an ordinary school that is fully accessible and has specialist staff for pupils with motor disability.
• LSE — LSE is Spanish Sign Language, the sign language recognised by law for deaf people in Spain.
• Audición y lenguaje — Audición y lenguaje teachers are school specialists who support pupils with hearing and speech or language needs.

Key rules

• First step: Ask for the dictamen de escolarización when you apply for a school place, as most specialist support depends on it.
• Region: Interpreters, preferential schools and aid funding differ by region, so confirm with your regional education department.
• ONCE eligibility: ONCE judges eligibility by sight criteria and eye reports, not by a general disability certificate.
• Hearing aids: Public cover for hearing aids is limited, so expect to pay part of the cost.

The short version

Support depends on your child's need and on your region. Deaf children can get sign language support. Children with sight loss get a specialist service from ONCE. Children with a physical disability can go to an accessible school, often a specialist one. The regional education department decides most of it, so start there.

For nearly every route, the first step is an educational needs report called a dictamen de escolarización. The regional guidance team issues it when you apply for a school place. Ask for it when you apply.

If your child is deaf

Spain legally recognises Spanish Sign Language (LSE) and Catalan Sign Language. Deaf children and their families have the right to learn and use them, including at school. Education authorities must support this.

What you actually get varies by region and school:

• Interpreter in class. A sign language interpreter (intérprete de lengua de signos) is mostly provided in secondary school and later stages.
• Bilingual model. Some schools teach in LSE and Spanish, with deaf teaching assistants (asesores sordos).
• Ordinary school with support. Many deaf pupils attend a regular school with hearing and language specialists, such as audición y lenguaje teachers.

Several regions, including Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia, Valencia, the Basque Country and Castilla y León, name certain schools as preferential for deaf pupils. Madrid has well-known bilingual ones, such as CEIP Gascón y Marín. To get a place, ask for the dictamen de escolarización when you apply. The school is then assigned through the regional admissions process. Ask your regional education department for the current list of schools, because it changes.

If your child is blind or has low vision

ONCE runs educational services for pupils with sight loss in ordinary schools. They come through its regional education resource centres (centros de recursos educativos). They include:

• Visiting specialist teachers who support your child and the class teachers.
• Materials in Braille, large print and digital formats.
• Technology and adapted software, such as screen readers, magnifiers and Braille devices.
• Training in mobility, orientation and daily living skills.
• Early-intervention services, advice for families and school staff, and help with the move to work.

Who qualifies. ONCE goes by sight, not by a general disability certificate. Eligibility is generally a visual acuity of 0.1 or less in the better eye with best correction, or a visual field of 10 degrees or less. Other serious sight loss can also count if eye reports document it. ONCE decides case by case. Your child needs to be an affiliate or be assessed by ONCE. Most families also hold a disability certificate, though ONCE does not strictly require one. The documents box below lists what to bring.

If your child has a physical disability

Public and publicly funded schools must remove physical barriers and make reasonable adjustments. These include ramps, lifts, adapted toilets and adapted furniture.

Some ordinary schools are a centro preferente motórico. They concentrate resources for pupils with motor disability. They are fully accessible and have specialist staff, such as physiotherapists, support teachers and care assistants. To get in, you need the dictamen de escolarización. You then apply in the normal admissions round, and your child gets priority for a place in the preferential school. Details differ by region, so check with your regional education department.

Who pays for aids

It depends on the type of aid, and there are gaps.

• Cochlear implants. The public health system covers them in public hospitals when medical criteria are met.
• Hearing aids. Public cover is limited, with set amounts and age limits. Many regions give partial help for children, often up to a certain age. Families commonly pay part of the cost.
• Classroom hearing technology. Education authorities supply systems such as FM or radio systems, but this differs by region.
• Sight equipment. ONCE pays for equipment for its affiliates.
• Gaps. Replacement, repair and processor upgrades for implants are typical gaps. Grants from foundations and associations may help.

What to do, in order

1. Contact your regional education department and ask for the dictamen de escolarización.
2. If your child has sight loss, contact ONCE's regional education resource centre.
3. Ask the department which schools are preferential for deaf pupils or for motor disability.
4. Ask your health service what it covers for hearing aids in your region and at your child's age.

The FAQ below answers common follow-up questions.

Documents you need

• Ophthalmology reports documenting your child's sight loss, from the eye specialist. ONCE uses them to judge eligibility, generally visual acuity of 0.1 or less in the better eye with best correction, or a visual field of 10 degrees or less.

• Disability certificate. It is not strictly required for ONCE educational services, but most families hold one alongside ONCE affiliation.

Frequently asked questions

Does my child need a disability certificate to get ONCE educational services?

No, a disability certificate is not strictly required for ONCE educational services, but your child must be an ONCE affiliate or be assessed by ONCE. Eligibility is based on eye reports, generally visual acuity of 0.1 or less in the better eye with best correction, or a visual field of 10 degrees or less. Most families end up holding both.

Who pays for hearing aids and cochlear implants for a child?

The public health system covers cochlear implants in public hospitals when medical criteria are met, but hearing aids get only limited public amounts with age limits. Many regions give partial aid for children's hearing aids, so families often pay part. Repairs, replacements and implant processor upgrades are common gaps, which foundations and associations sometimes help fill.

What is a centro preferente motórico?

A centro preferente motórico is an ordinary school that concentrates resources for pupils with motor disability. It is fully accessible and has staff such as physiotherapists, support teachers and care assistants. You need a dictamen de escolarización from the regional guidance team, then ask for the place in the regular admissions process, where you get priority.