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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". Town Halls do make sure that most beaches have areas adapted for the disabled. Some beaches are equipped with wheelchair accessible boardwalks and toilets. There are also facilities for disabled divers on the Costa del Sol.
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. Málaga airport has disabled facilities and specially adapted access to terminals and aircraft.
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):
Adapted Airport Ferry ServiceVehicles adapted with ramps are available from local companies for transport to and from international airports. Services & Facilities on the Costa del SolWhether on holiday or living in the Costa del Sol there are companies that can provide hire mobility equipment.
There are many care companies and organisations on the Costa del Sol offering services and facilities for the mobility impaired. Local organisation Care on the Costa del Sol has a network of nurse aids and carers, organisation with mobility aids (wheelchairs and chair lifts), accommodation with disabled access and more.Aspandem is a Spanish organisation for the disabled on the Costa del Sol. Age Concern Espańa has information and advice for those whose mobility has been affected by age.
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 the Costa del Sol" INFOrmation Page at AngloINFO Costa del Sol. AngloINFO Costa del Sol's INFOrmation Pages provide an online encyclopaedia covering all aspects of "Life in the Costa del Sol, in English!". AngloINFO Costa del Sol is your Costa del Sol information source, for everyone living in the Costa del Sol or moving to the Costa del Sol, covering everything from the Costa del Sol property and real estate contacts you need before and during your move to Spain, to all aspects of everyday life in the Costa del Sol international community for those living their lives in Spain. | |||||||||||||||||||||
