CRPD/C/GC/4 34. Any support measures provided must be compliant with the goal of inclusion. Accordingly, they must be designed to strengthen opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in the classroom and in out-of-school activities alongside their peers, rather than marginalize them. 35. Regarding article 24 (3), many States parties are failing to make appropriate provision for persons with disabilities, in particular persons on the autism spectrum, those with communication impairments and those with sensory disabilities, to acquire the life, language and social skills essential for participation in education and within their communities: (a) Blind and partially sighted students must be provided with opportunities to learn Braille, alternative script, augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, as well as orientation and mobility skills. Investment in access to appropriate technology and alternative communication systems to facilitate learning should be supported. Peer support and mentoring schemes should be introduced and encouraged; (b) Deaf and hard-of-hearing students must be provided with the opportunity to learn sign language and measures must be taken to recognize and promote the linguistic identity of the deaf community. The Committee draws the attention of States parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education, which establishes the right of children to be taught in their own language, and reminds States parties that, in line with article 30 (4) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, persons with disabilities are entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition of and support for their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign languages and deaf culture. In addition, hardof-hearing students must also have access to quality speech therapy services, induction loop technology and captioning; (c) Students who are blind, deaf or deafblind must be provided with education delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximize personal, academic and social development both within and outside formal school settings. The Committee emphasizes that, for such inclusive environments to exist, States parties should provide the required support, including by way of resources, assistive technology and orientation and mobility skills; (d) Learners with communication impairments must be provided with the opportunity to express themselves and learn using alternative or augmentative communication. This may include the provision of sign language, low- or high-technology communication aids such as tablets with speech output, voice output communication aids or communication books. States parties should invest in developing expertise, technology and services in order to promote access to appropriate technology and alternative communication systems to facilitate learning; (e) Learners with social communication difficulties must be supported through adaptations to classroom organization, including work in pairs, peer tutoring, seating close to the teacher and the creation of a structured and predictable environment; (f) Learners with intellectual impairments must be provided with concrete, observable/visual and easy-to-read teaching and learning materials within a safe, quiet and structured learning environment, targeting capacities that will best prepare students for independent living and vocational contexts. States parties should invest in inclusive interactive classrooms where use is made of alternative instructional strategies and assessment methods. 36. To realize article 24 (4), States parties are required to take appropriate measures to employ administration, teaching and non-teaching staff with the skills to work effectively in 10

Select target paragraph3