Promuovere l’integrazione sociale tra pari: l’impegno educativo oltre la didattica.

The considerable presence of students with disabilities in Italian schools of all grades (Istat, 2022) calls for a reflection onthe meaning that this presence takes on in terms of social participation and effective involvement of the student with dis‐abilities in the plurality of life contexts. The quality of school integration is measured by its ability to promote long‐terminclusion that goes beyond the time and space of the school setting, prolonging its positive impact on the student withdisabilities in the realisation of his or her life project. In support of this, the paper dwells on the fundamental role of peersin the school success and the social inclusion process of peers with disabilities, recognising them as a fundamental escortingand accompanying factor for the student in the transition from the structured and formal settings to the life contexts thatspecifically concern the informal space of recreational time, entertainment, but also of associationism and citizenship.