The Department of Social Welfare of the Arrecife City Council, headed by Maite Corujo, and the contracting company responsible for managing the Christmas Reconciliation Camps have apologized in a press release issued on Thursday afternoon to families and associations on the island following the publication of the Liability and Acceptance Clause for the Municipal Reconciliation Camps of Arrecife. In particular, it has apologized to those associations representing minors with special educational needs and functional diversity.
The Lanzarote Association of Families and Autistic People denounced on Wednesday afternoon a clause stating that minors with "special educational needs, physical, sensory, intellectual disabilities, or any other condition requiring reasonable accommodation measures" could not participate in said camps because the municipal camps "do not have specific adaptations" or "personalized support resources."
Both parties acknowledge that "the disseminated text conveys a message completely contrary to the values of inclusion that should govern any public service," especially one aimed at children.
Likewise, they explain that the inclusion of that clause was due exclusively to "an error derived from the intention of reflecting very specific problems experienced during the summer campaign," in which complicated situations arose regarding ratios and levels of support not initially foreseen.
It should be noted that last July, the Lanzarotea Association reported that an autistic child had been expelled from a conciliatory summer camp in Arrecife.
A clause that "does not reflect reality"
Both parties acknowledge that the way the clause was drafted "does not reflect the reality of the service nor the spirit of the awarded public contract," and they inform that said clause has been completely withdrawn and that a new corrected document will be issued, "fully aligned with current regulations and with the principles of inclusion that should govern any municipal activity."
In this way, they guarantee that "no minor will be excluded due to disability, educational need, or need for support"
Both the Area and the company reaffirm their commitment to full compliance with the General Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN International Convention, and the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
Finally, they remain available to associations and families to explain any additional points and listen to suggestions to prevent such a situation from happening again