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Country Profile

Spain

6.7 out of 10

Right to decide and right to vote

By law, people with intellectual disabilities should have support to make decisions and keep their legal capacity. People with intellectual disabilities have the right to vote and to stand for elections. There are some measures in place to make voting accessible.

8.4

Right to live independently and to be included in the community

Most adults with intellectual disabilities live in large institutions. Some live in smaller institutions. There is no plan to close institutions.

4.5

Housing and support

Almost all adults with intellectual disabilities live with their family. Very few live in their own place. There is support for families. Disability benefits go to the individual, family, or service provider. There is a mechanism to assess quality of services.

4.5

Education

Almost all children with intellectual disabilities go to mainstream schools. Some go to special schools. There is a national strategy towards inclusive education.

7.8

Employment

Very few people with intellectual disabilities are employed on the open labour market or work in ‘protected employment’. Many attend daycare. People risk losing disability benefits when they earn money. ‘Protected employment’ pays at least minimum wage.

4.8

Healthcare

Most people with intellectual disabilities have access to healthcare. Very little easy-to-read information. Sex education is poor. Little freedom of choice in reproductive health. People with intellectual disabilities cannot be forcibly sterilised.

6.7

Representation

People with intellectual disabilities are represented in the national cross-disability organisation and there is a person with an intellectual disability on the board/council. Plena Inclusión receives government funding for advocacy work.

10

How does Spain compare to the European average?

Spain European average

Right to decide and right to vote
8.4
Right to live independently and to be included in the community
4.5
Housing and support
4.5
Education
7.8
Employment
4.8
Healthcare
6.7
Representation
10

Planning for the future is the main concern for 62% of families, according to the data in Plena Inclusión’s study. This is followed by difficulties in obtaining assistance and completing paperwork (60%) and understanding the support needed (58%). These issues reflect the key needs of families to ensure their well-being.

Plena inclusión denounces that more than 400,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Spain lack equal access to information. This occurs because many media outlets fail to adapt news into easy-to-understand formats.

Reported numbers of people with intellectual disabilities in
Mainstream education 55,133
Special education 17,330
No education *
Larger institutions 10,000
Smaller institutions 5,000
Small care homes 5,000
Psychiatric hospitals *

These are the reported or estimated numbers of the country. In most cases, in reality, the numbers will be higher as the data is underreported or missing entirely.