There are specific agencies in the cantons (including school psychological services) that provide situation assessment, diagnosis and treatment, as well as guidance counseling. Special needs schooling is offered after an application, an assessment of the case and an admittance decision. Applications may be made, in the first instance, by teachers, physicians, special services (e.g., school psychological services), school authorities, and guardianship authorities. In more than half of the cantons, the parents can also submit applications for admittance to a special needs school.

 

Assessments and Decisions
In all cantons, the school psychological services, child and adolescent psychological services, or other specialists are responsible for making the assessments.
There are no uniform national regulations governing the decision as to whether a child with special educational needs will attend a regular school (integrative schooling) or a special needs school.
As a rule, the parents, the school authorities and the teachers, as well as the specialized centers, take part in the decision-making process. Ultimately, the cantonal school authorities decide if special needs schooling is appropriate.