State of the Issue:

Activists for the rights of people with disabilities define disability as “a social injustice that results from society’s inability to meet the needs of people in situations of disability” (Bonehill 2020). Accessibility and inclusion in public spaces are basic needs for everyone. In Spain, the Law of Independent Living, which is part of the General Law of the Rights of People with Disabilities, guarantees accessibility to public places and public transport. However, several studies show that cities still present many barriers for people with disabilities. Society imposes barriers that exclude people with disabilities, even though by law they have the same rights to occupy public spaces, whether for having coffee or going shopping. In general, in Spain, elements that are inaccessible to people who use mobility assistance devices include sidewalks with uneven paving stones, lack of ramps, narrow entrances to public spaces, small doors, and tight spaces that make it difficult to maneuver wheelchairs (4).

In the city of Pamplona, some accessibility issues faced by people with disabilities include restaurants that are too narrow and do not have suitable tables for wheelchairs, elevators with inadequate signage, sidewalks with uneven paving, fountains and garbage bins that are too high, and public restrooms that can only be accessed by stairs (3). The Strategic Plan for Integral Accessibility in the City of Pamplona 2022-2026 aims to improve the accessibility of the city. The plan’s objectives include analyzing the current state of accessibility in the city, implementing universal accessibility to the greatest extent possible to allow the integration and autonomy of all people with any disability, and establishing a strategy for implementation (2).

The lack of accessibility in public places impacts the quality of life of people who use mobility assistance devices (4). Elements that hinder access to public spaces not only affect physical health and safety but also have an impact on mental health. Societal limitations can cause feelings of desolation, depression, and frustration. By creating public spaces designed with people with disabilities in mind, accessibility would be improved, and consequently, the quality of life of people who have mobility limitations would improve as well.

Project Presentation:

During my 6 weeks in Spain from May to the end of June 2024, I volunteered at ASPACE with my partner Nelson as a part of the Rice in Spain program. We volunteered twice a week and had the opportunity to meet Mamen Miñés Zueco and Amaya Climent, two residents of ASPACE who have Cerebral Palsy (CP) and reduced mobility.

CP is a disability caused by a brain injury that affects the neuromotor system, impacting a person’s mobility and posture. It may also be accompanied by sensory or intellectual disabilities (5). CP is the most common cause of disability in children worldwide, and specifically in Spain, 120,000 people have CP (5). The symptoms and abilities of patients vary from person to person; no two people with CP are the same (6).

ASPACE is an organization that supports people with CP and their families, with its primary mission being to improve the quality of life of these individuals. ASPACE has several residences, one in Iturrama and another in Cizur Menor. The Iturrama residence houses 40 residents, and it is here where Nelson and I volunteered. ASPACE is an organization that helped me learn more about the real-life experiences of people with CP. For me, ASPACE has been a bridge, allowing me to create friendships with Nelson, Mamen, and Amaya, and connect Texas with Pamplona.

We went out with Mamen and Amaya around Iturrama and other neighborhoods of Pamplona during my time with them. It was a very beautiful experience because Amaya had the opportunity to go out of the residence more often. Mamen can go around the city alone, but Amaya must always be accompanied. We went to cafes for merienda, went on walks around the Universidad de Navarra, and had many conversations on different topics. We discussed the differences between Spain and the United States, and how life in Spain is for people with CP. This experience allowed me to get to know Mamen and Amaya better, learning about their favorite desserts, their passions, and their preferred activities like Boccia and aquatic physiotherapy. Gradually, our lives intertwined. We are now four pieces of fabric, stitched together by our shared experiences, creating a quilt of the coming together of our different lives.

I also had the opportunity to learn about accessibility in Pamplona by going out with Mamen and Amaya and listening to their experiences. For example, Amaya told us about her experience at the Women’s Center in Iturrama: her wheelchair couldn’t fit in the elevator, and instead of having an easy visit, she had to go to the hospital for a simple women’s exam that should have been done at the Women’s Center. Mamen shared her experiences in bars, restaurants, and public places she visits for coffee. She believes that coffee shops do the minimum required to comply with the law, without considering how small the space is or the type of tables they have. Most of the time, they only add a ramp and think that makes the place accessible. Through working with Nelson, I also learned about the medical treatment of people with CP and what doctors should do to improve the experience of a patient with CP.

In this experience, I observed the cruelty some people showed toward people with disabilities, but I also saw that in cafes, workers are friendly and do their best to adapt the space for us. In conclusion, my experience with Mamen and Amaya not only offered me an opportunity to learn but also expanded my way of thinking. They are wonderful people with kind hearts. I am very grateful for the opportunity to meet them, and it is a shame I couldn’t continue working with them after those 6 weeks.

Project Results:

This experience opened my eyes to a new way of thinking and viewing our society. I now see the barriers that exist in public spaces that exclude people who have mobility limitations. I was very surprised to find that large supermarkets like Eroski are not accessible for people who have mobility limitations. I also noticed the difficulties we encountered when trying to go to a cafe to eat or have a drink. When we went with Mamen and Amaya to some cafes, we had to move the tables, and it was still very difficult for them to maneuver their wheelchairs to sit at the table. It is very frustrating and uncomfortable for Mamen and Amaya when it’s difficult to enter a place, but they face this daily. Seeing these barriers they face, I have tried to create a project that showcases their routine and gives them a voice. To change the inaccessibility of public places, we must raise awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities face through education and representation. Having representation in politics would give people with disabilities a voice in the making of laws. 

Finally, I created an accessibility map of the main street in Iturrama, near ASPACE; a review of 4 cafes we visited with Mamen and Amaya; and, lastly, a video representing their experiences going to a cafe. I wanted to present a real reflection of their lives and the barriers they encounter in public spaces. In my first creative work, I wanted to show that businesses in Iturrama are not very accessible to people who have mobility limitations. For my second creative work, I aimed to include the voices of Mamen and Amaya and their opinions about the accessibility of the cafés we visited together. In my final creative work, the video, I wanted to represent Mamen and Amaya’s real-life experience in a café to raise more awareness of the barriers they face when going out for a snack.

Conclusion:

This experience made me think about the barriers our society places on people with disabilities. Going back to the definition of disability, we see that disability results from society’s inability to meet certain people’s needs. As shown in my video, Nelson and I helped Mamen eat. However, if the tables in cafes were higher and there was enough space between the tables, Mamen could eat alone. The issue is that many public spaces are not designed with people who have mobility limitations in mind, making them inaccessible. With more awareness and education, we can change accessibility and improve the quality of life of many people who are excluded from our society due to the lack of accessibility.

References

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