The Spanish Confederation of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities (COCEMFE) and the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC-FEE) have signed a collaboration framework agreement to improve universal accessibility in spaces linked to tourism, leisure and environmental education throughout Spain. The agreement represents a strategic step to guarantee the full participation of people with disabilities in environments where physical and social barriers still persist.
The agreement, signed this Wednesday by the president of COCEMFE, Anxo Queiruga, and the president of ADEAC-FEE, José Palacios, establishes as general objective mutual collaboration to advance universal accessibility on beaches, marinas, tourist boats, educational centers, trails and hotel establishments.
It is about fundamental environments for the exercise of the right to leisure, education and community participation, but in which barriers still exist architectural, information and service structures that limit the full participation of people with physical and organic disabilities.
In second placethe agreement strategically connects accessibility and inclusion with reference programs in environmental education and sustainability such as Blue Flag, Eco-schools, Green Key-Llave Verde or Sendero Azul, promoted by ADEAC-FEE. This alliance reinforces the coherence between environmental sustainability and social sustainability, aligning with the 2030 Agenda and the principle of “leaving no one behind.”
For Queiruga, Integrating the disability perspective into these programs “means moving towards a truly inclusive development model, which protects the natural environment and at the same time guarantees that all people can enjoy it on equal terms.”
For José Palacios, the main objective of the agreement is “to achieve a society that guarantees the full exercise of people’s rights, regardless of functional disabilities.” And he adds that “people do not lose rights because they have some type of disability, in our country we are all equal in rights and social duties.”
Finally, The agreement gives COCEMFE an active and relevant role in the development of the programs. The entity will participate in the specific jury of the Special Mention in Universal Accessibility of the Blue Flag program and will advise on the adaptation of the accessibility criteria of the Sendero Azul program. This direct involvement reinforces the technical rigor of the evaluation processes and ensures that accessibility is addressed from a human rights perspective. and with expert knowledge of the associative movement of physical and organic disabilities.
COCEMFE considers that these types of alliances are essential to advance equal opportunities and to transfer accessibility from the regulatory level to the practical field. Improving accessibility on beaches, trails or educational centers not only benefits people with disabilities, but also older people, families with minors and the general public.
With this agreement, both entities reaffirm their commitment to cooperation to develop joint activities, exchange information and promote initiatives that contribute to eliminating barriers and consolidating truly inclusive tourist and educational environments. COCEMFE insists that universal accessibility be the transversal axis in the design of spaces, services and programs, guaranteeing sufficient resources and effective monitoring mechanisms.
