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Information for the disabled and application forms for the
Disabled Person's Card, are available from the local Town Hall (ayuntamiento). Note: You must be a Spanish resident to qualify for the card. 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". Spanish Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced
Spanish International AirportsThe 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.
ParkingCars 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.
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):
Services & Facilities in MadridMost crossings on the streets of Madrid have wheelchair ramps. The crossings are also equipped with beeping devices for the sight impaired. Most of Madrid's main attractions have disabled access, and some of them offer wheelchairs for hire. UndergroundAbout half of the underground stops in Madrid are suitable for wheelchair access. It is possible to obtain a metro map showing which stops have disabled access at any metro station or at tourist offices. TaxisA special company, called Eurotaxi, offer cabs with disabled access. It is possible to book one of these taxis 24 hours a day:
Bus and suburban trainsThe Madrid bus service does not have facilities for disabled people. The suburban trains, on the other hand, have a company policy to accommodate disabled passengers. Associations for the disabled and mobility reduced in MadridFAMMA has information about services, events, sports and facilities.
ONCE is a foundation dedicated to employment projects for disabled people. The website, in both Spanish and English, offers information about accessibility, employment, projects and much more:
Discapnet provides information for disabled people.
COCEMFE (Confederación Coordinadora Estatal de Minusválidos Físicos de Espańa) is a non-governmental organisation that promotes improvement of living conditions of disabled people in Spain. Their website offers information about employment, projects, subventions, curses and more: 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.
The FEDMF (Spanish Sports Federation for the Physical Disabled) has a website that features information about sports, events and more:
Other Spanish Organisations
Other associationsCalibre 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. Article includes contribution by Anette Kelf of Jacks Lifts Any suggestions for extra information that should be on this page?
This is the "Notes for the Disabled in Madrid" INFOrmation Page at AngloINFO Madrid. AngloINFO Madrid's INFOrmation Pages provide an online encyclopaedia covering all aspects of "Life in Madrid, in English!". AngloINFO Madrid is your Madrid information source, for everyone living in Madrid or moving to Madrid, covering everything from the Madrid property and real estate contacts you need before and during your move to Spain, to all aspects of everyday life in the Madrid international community for those living their lives in Spain. » Find out more about AngloINFO in Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||
