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The jury recognizes Murcia as the Spanish town of more than 100,000 inhabitants that has worked the most for the substantial improvement of the quality of life and the inclusion of people with disabilities.

The award ceremony will take place on July 9, in Madrid, in an act chaired by Her Majesty Queen Letizia.

The mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, together with the councilor for Social Rights and Development Cooperation, Conchita Ruiz, and the president of the Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities and their Families of the Region of Murcia (CERMI), Pedro Martínez, attended Today an event that was attended by representatives of the various groups of disability in the municipality, a meeting in which it was announced that Murcia has been distinguished with the Queen Letizia Award for Universal Accessibility of Municipalities.

It is an international distinction, promoted by the Royal Board on Disability, an autonomous body attached to the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality).

The award ceremony will take place on July 9, in Madrid, in an act chaired by His Majesty Queen Letizia in his capacity as President of Honor of the Board and that will be attended by municipal representatives.

The objective of these awards is to reward the work of those Spanish and Latin American town halls and town halls that substantially improve the quality of life and inclusion of people with disabilities.

Murcia has been distinguished in the category of more than 100,000 inhabitants in this 2018 edition, for "its Universal Accessibility Plan, which includes cross-cutting work in areas such as care and social and labor integration of people with disabilities.

It also highlights the network of itineraries fully accessible by the city, including gardens and parks, and awareness and training to achieve personal autonomy of people with disabilities in their family, social, educational and work environment.

The awards have also recognized the work done by the municipalities of Antequera (Malaga, between 10,000 and 100,000 inhabitants) and Medina de Rioseco (Valladolid, less than 10,000 inhabitants).

In the section for Latin American town halls, the municipality of Salcajá (Guatemala) and the city of Santiago de Chile have been distinguished.

I Universal Accessibility Plan

Universal accessibility is one of the priority objectives of the City of Murcia, a priority that has been reflected in the First Universal Accessibility Municipal Plan approved on December 20, 2018 by the Plenary, with the support of all political groups, and in which was attended by more than 50 disability entities, with the advice of CERMI.

With a budget of 4.5 million euros, includes 300 specific actions divided into ten strategic areas, which will meet the 70 objectives, through the involvement of all the Councils.

This Plan will allow not only to eliminate architectural barriers and urban obstacles in transport and public buildings, but also to practice sports, information, services, cultural offerings and leisure activities for everyone.

Among the set of actions that have already taken place, highlights the action of accessibility for blind people in public transport, for which Murcia's urban bus fleet has become the first in Spain to be accessible through a new system for the visually impaired, also implanted in the tram.

The first smart pedestrian steps have also been installed in the city and districts, which facilitate the autonomy of blind people.

Other actions have focused on favoring full inclusion in the labor market, through training practices agreements with Assido, CEOM or Astrapace.

Also the creation of inclusive playgrounds or accessibility to public events for people with hearing disabilities, through the magnetic loop or an interpreter.

Entities

The following entities attended the ceremony held today in the Exhibition Hall: Federation of Associations of Families with Intellectual Disability (Full Region of Murcia);

Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases (FEDER);

National Organization of Spanish Blind Persons (ONCE);

Federation of Associations of Murcians of People with Physical and Organic Disability (FAMDIF), Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities CERMI Region of Murcia;

Alime;

ADAER, Crecer-Murcia, Predif Region of Murcia, Retimur, AFAES, AFAPADE, Federation of Mental Health of the Region of Murcia, Astrapace, Fundown, Asteamur, Abamur, FAUM, FEDER and Aspanpal.

"You are responsible for reminding us that we are all equal, regardless of our physical or intellectual capabilities," said José Ballesta, who added that "from the City Council we put ourselves at your service to realize that right to equality and full inclusion."

Source: Ayuntamiento de Murcia