Notes for the Disabled in the Balearics

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Notes for the Disabled in the Balearics

Information for the disabled and application forms for the Disabled Person's Card, are available from the local Town Hall (ayuntamiento).

• To find contact details of the local Town Hall: Click here

Note: A person 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.

• For a list of beaches and marinas with disabled access: Click here 

Spanish Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced

• National Organisation for the Disabled (Organización Nacional de Discapacitados)
  At: Covadonga, 5-1º E, Oviedo, 33002 Asturias
• Disabled Association (Asociaciones de Discapacitados - APSA)
  At: Zarandieta 7, 03005 Alicante
• COCEMFE: Association for the disabled promoting the improvement of living conditions of disabled people in Spain and their integration in the work place
• ONCE: Spanish organisation for the blind 
• 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

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.

• Mallorca airport has specially adapted ramp access and facilities for disabled passengers
  • For a list of facilities: Click here (in Spanish)
• Menorca airport has a number of facilities including specially adapted ramp access, toilets and telephone booths 
  • For a list of facilities: Click here (in Spanish)
• Ibiza airport caters for those with reduced mobility
  • For a list of facilities: Click here

Adapted Airport Ferry Service

Vehicles adapted with ramps are available from local companies for transport to and from international airports.

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 ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): 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)

Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced in the Balearics

Note: Some of the following associations have websites in Catalan or Spanish, there is no guarantee that there will be an English-speaking person.

ONCE, the Spanish organisation for the blind has a territorial council in the Balearics. 

• At: Manacor, 8, 07006 Palma de Mallorca
  Tel: 971 775 522
  Fax: 971 468 161
  Website 

Balearics Sports Federation for the Physically Disabled (Federació Balear d'Esports per a persones amb discapacitat) has a website that features information about sports, events and more.

• At: Av. Joan Miró 327, 07015 Palma de Mallorca
  Tel: 971 701 481
  e-mail
  Website (in Catalan)

Balearics Association for the Physically Disabled (Associació Balear de Persones Amb Discapacitat Física). Association working for the integration of the physically disabled in all aspects of society.

• At: Pasqual Ribot 6, 07011 Palma de Mallorca 
  Tel / Fax : 971 289 052
  e-mail
  Website (in Spanish)

Association of Paraplegics, Severely Disabled and Amputees (Asociación de Paraplégicos y Grandes Minusválidos y Amputados - ASPAYM): Association for the integration of disabled people in society.

• e-mail
  Website (in Spanish)

Coordinadora: The Balearics Federation for the Disabled (Federació Balear de Persones amb Discapacitat) works as an umbrella association for the different associations for those with reduced mobility in Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera.

• At: C/ Sor Clara Andreu, nº 15 bajos, 07010 Palma 
  Tel: 971 498 777
  Fax: 971 498 778 
  e-mail
  Website (in Catalan)

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

• Age Concern España (the Federation)
  At: Apartado 7, 07180 Santa Ponsa, Mallorca
  Tel: 971 231 520
  Fax: 971 230 490
  e-mail 
  Website 

The Danny Torres Foundation was created to help and raise awareness for disabled children in Ibiza and Formentera.

• Tel: 971 302 628
  e-mail 

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