• To find contact details for the local Town Hall: Click here

Most larger towns have suppliers of mobility aids and other equipment for the disabled which can be bought or rented: wheelchairs (silla de ruedas), mini-lifts, mobility scooters, walkers and general orthopaedic equipment. Ask at an English-speaking pharmacy or look in the Páginas Amarillas (Spanish yellow pages) under the heading "discapacitado" or "minusválido".

Town Halls ensure that most beaches have areas adapted for the disabled. Some beaches are equipped with wheelchair accessible board walks and toilets. 

Spanish Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced

• Organización Nacional de Discapacitados (National Organisation for the Disabled)
  At: Covadonga, 5 - 1º E, Oviedo 33002 Asturias
• APSA: Asociaciones de Discapacitados (Disabled Association) 
  At: Zarandieta 7, 03005 Alicante
• COCEMFE: Association for the disabled for their integration in the work place
• ONCE Spanish organisation for the blind (website in English)
• CERMI (Spanish National Council of Disabled Representatives) represents, defends and acts on behalf of Spanish citizens with disabilities (more than 3.5 million) and their families
• FEDMF: Spanish Sports Federation for the Physically Disabled 

Spanish International Airports

The European Parliament passed a regulation which will facilitate air flights for people with reduced mobility. This should be put into practice in 2008. The regulations establish that people with reduced mobility should have free, special assistance when needed in airplanes, airports, baggage check in and with flight connections.

Responsibility has been passed to the airports to accommodate the needs of the disabled traveller. Air companies will still be at liberty to provide services to people with reduced mobility.

Vehicles adapted with ramps are available from local companies for transport to and from international airports.

• For further information see the Spanish Airports website 

Parking

Cars parked in disabled spaces must display the disabled sticker or blue badge in the window. A Spanish resident may request a disabled sticker and information on applying for a blue badge from their local Town Hall.

The blue badge is a standardised European Community disabled person's parking permit which provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries - a blue badge from one country is valid in another. A person coming to Spain from another EU country, can apply in their home country for this universal badge which allows the use of reserved parking.

• Disabled spaces in car parks reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol
• Do not park if the space is marked with a vehicle registration number
• Some car parks allow vehicles displaying a disabled parking sign to park free of charge
• There are no concessions for disabled drivers on roadside parking
• Full details from the ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): Click here

Driver's with a blue badge from another European country may display this Spanish translation beside a badge written in another language (text from the UK Automobile Association):

• See the UK Automobile Association website for more information: Click here

• To see a sample badge: Click here (PDF)

Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced in Barcelona and Catalonia

Barcelona Town Hall has a Municipal Department for the Disabled (Instituto Municipal de Personas con Discapacidad - IMD). Their aim is to help with the development and integration of disabled people in Barcelona. They have a special transport service available to those with reduced mobility when there is no adapted public transport available.

• For further information: Click here 

Barcelona Accesible is a service provided by the Barcelona City Council. Their website has information on sport and leisure for the disabled, education facilities for those with special needs, employment, training and social services available to help with the integration of the disabled. 

• For further information: Click here

• For a directory of organisations and associations for the disabled in Barcelona: Click here

Federació Catalana d’Esports per a Minusvàlids - FCEMF is a sports association for the disabled for Barcelona and Catalonia. Their website has information on the different sports available and contact details for clubs. 

• At: C/Francesc Tàrrega 48, 08027 Barcelona 
  Tel: 933 409 200 
  Fax: 934 081 285
  e-mail
  Website

Other associations

Calibre Audio Books: UK charity, Calibre, supplies audio books in English on cassette or disk to visually impaired and disabled people. The free service is available to members (registration can be made via the website). Free postal service is available to anywhere in Europe. 

• Calibre
  Tel: + 44 1296 432339
  Fax: + 44 1296 392599
  e-mail 
  Website

Article includes contribution by Anette Kelf of Jacks Lifts
Tel: 965 831 021 / e-mail / Website
Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved

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