The Council of Ministers is going to establish basic regulations to ensure cognitive accessibility in public spaces. The aim is to “guarantee people with comprehension difficulties their right to understand the information provided by the environment and to easily carry out the activities that take place there,” explain the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, the promoter of the measure that is expected to be approved today. “Just as, for example, ramps or elevators are installed for people with reduced mobility; environments, services, and tools must be guaranteed for those with comprehension difficulties,” detail the department of Pablo Bustinduy.
“The idea is to ensure that these people can fully exercise their rights and duties as citizens, as well as non-discrimination,” they elaborate from Consumer Affairs. This regulation benefits people with intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injury, autism, mental health problems, or cerebral palsy, but also elderly people with cognitive decline, illiterates, or migrants who do not master the languages of the State.
The royal decree establishes the general requirements on information and communication that all public and private agents must comply with to ensure cognitive accessibility in “essential areas,” such as, among others, health centers, public spaces, telecommunications, means of transport, judicial administrations, relations with public administration, employment matters, or electoral processes.
So that all citizens can “understand information, communicate, orient themselves in environments, and carry out activities autonomously” in the mentioned areas, there must be tools that facilitate the understanding of information and that communication is effective. Some of these tools are: applying clear language; ensuring easy reading; having augmentative and alternative communication systems; the use of pictograms, sounds, or visual supports; or orientation resources and accessible signage.
Read more The best balance cushions: I test four models for training at home
“This is the first regulatory framework in Spain on cognitive accessibility regarding the actions of public administrations and the different providers of goods and services,” they celebrate from the ministry. Furthermore, they explain, with the approval of this regulation one of the provisions of the Law 6/2022 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and their Social Inclusion is fulfilled, specifically regarding the basic conditions of cognitive accessibility applicable throughout the national territory.
To ensure the development of the regulation, the ministry, through the Spanish Center for Cognitive Accessibility (CEACOG), is preparing a series of guides to facilitate its application to the different public bodies and private entities responsible for its implementation. On the other hand, CEACOG is already developing initiatives to make administrative procedures more accessible such as the income tax return, the renewal of the ID card, or the request for the minimum vital income.