Notes for the Disabled in Costa Blanca

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Notes for the Disabled in Costa Blanca

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. Good examples are the Calpe beaches, which also offer specially adapted chairs for use in the water. Some beaches are equipped with wheelchair accessible board walks and toilets. 

• For a list of beaches and marinas with disabled access on the Costa Blanca: Click here 

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 
• PROMI: An organisation offering support and assistance for the mentally handicapped
• AESE (Spanish Employment Support Association): Aid for disabled people in and seeking employment
• FEAPS: Organisation helping those who are mentally disabled
• Down España: Spanish Federation for people with Down Syndrome
• CERMI: Spanish committee representing the mentally and physically handicapped

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.

Alicante airport has disabled facilities including allocated parking spaces, adapted toilets and telephone booths, acoustic and visual information and lowered pavements.

• 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 ITF (International Transport Forum): 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)

Services & Facilities on the Costa Blanca

The disabled on the Costa Blanca are well catered for. The Generalitat Valenciana has information in Spanish and English.

• For further information: Click here select English, then "Thematic Directory" and "disabled"

There are companies on the Costa Blanca that hire mobility equipment to holidaymakers and residents.

• For further information from Mobility Abroad: Click here 

Costa Care provides useful contact information for the disabled traveller in Spain. It is currently developing a website to cover the Costa Blanca with information on equipment rental, nursing care, transport, hotels and accommodation, nursing homes, clinics and holiday companies.

Age Concern España has information and advice for those whose mobility has been affected by age.

• Age Concern España
  At: C/Paganini s/n, Ur. La Siesta, 03184 Torrevieja
  Tel: 966 786 887
  Fax: 966 786 887
  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: + 44 129 643 2339
  Fax: + 44 129 639 2599
  e-mail 
  Website

Article includes contribution by Anette Kelf of Jacks Lifts
Tel: 965 831 021 / e-mail / Website
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