More than four million people in Spain have some type of disability, and although we continue to advance in inclusion, barriers still exist that violate fundamental rights and limit their life development.
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, commemorated on December 3, the Social Association Creciendo, a federated entity of Plena Inclusión Canarias and affiliated with Down España, recalls that persons with disabilities are holders of rights and active citizens, not recipients of charity. "It is a diverse, valuable citizenship with full legitimacy to define their life project," states its director, Ligia Molnar, who emphasizes that "their inclusion cannot depend on goodwill, but on collective and political responsibility to guarantee rights and support."
On this day of protest, the Creciendo Social Association joins the state campaign #NoInclusionWithoutFamilies launched by Plena Inclusión, which denounces "the invisible overexertion of thousands of families who, for years, have compensated —and continue to compensate— with their time, their finances, and their health for the lack of public support".
The objective is to **make their situation visible and demand that their rights be guaranteed** in the future Family Law, explicitly including caregiver families to ensure their recognition as subjects of rights within the Law, with real measures for work-life balance and with compensation for those who have dedicated their lives to caregiving, often without contributions or any legal recognition. "Families are the silent engine of inclusion, but we cannot sustain a system that must guarantee rights on our own," emphasizes Molnar.
Four Areas of Work to Advance Inclusion
The association points to the new year, 2026, as the decisive moment to mark a turning point towards a fully accessible, inclusive Spain committed to human rights, capable of eliminating all barriers that prevent the full participation of people with disabilities in society. With this purpose, Creciendo articulates its message and works around four fundamental axes that should guide public action and social commitment: accessibility, real inclusive education, access to employment, and independent living.
Universal accessibility is the prerequisite for exercising any right. Therefore, from AS Creciendo, "we demand the effective fulfillment of the General Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (transformation of cities, housing, transportation, and digital environments into accessible spaces for all people), that real sanctions be applied for non-compliance with regulations, and the incorporation of accessibility as a cross-cutting axis in all public and private plans". "Without accessibility, there is no possible inclusion," Molnar emphasizes, "because when environments are exclusionary, it is not ability that is violated, but the right."
Education is the key to equality and must be guaranteed in inclusive environments, **without segregation and with sufficient resources**. "Without inclusive education, there will be no inclusive society," points out Molnar. Children and young people with disabilities have the right to receive a quality education, with specialized support and human resources, accessible technologies, and mandatory teacher training in inclusion and accessibility.
Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure a coordinated transition between the educational, social, and labor systems, and to demand effective measures to eradicate discrimination in access to and retention in employment. It should be noted in this regard that labor inclusion is one of the main avenues for achieving full social participation.
And finally, independent living, which "cannot depend on luck or family budget." For this reason, the association calls for "a **state system of support for personal autonomy, stable and guaranteed**, universal access to Personal Assistance as a subjective right, a greater boost to community services that allow people to live in the environment chosen by each person, and the progressive elimination of institutionalizing models. Because the possibility of choosing where, how, and with whom to live is an essential element of personal freedom and respect for human dignity."
The Social Association Creciendo works on these four axes with different projects in both Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, thanks to the support of various institutions and entities, as well as donations and fundraising activities carried out throughout the year, with the purpose of achieving real inclusion and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities
Awareness activities this December 3
Regarding the activities planned for this commemoration, the Social Association Creciendo reports that throughout the week it is carrying out first-person awareness-raising sessions, together with young beneficiaries of the association, in schools and institutes in Lanzarote and FuerteventuraIn addition, it will present a special recognition to the CEIP Agustín Millares Carló of Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) for its commitment to inclusion, will actively participate in institutional events in defense of diversity, and has organized, for next Saturday, December 13, an Inclusive Football triangular in Tinajo, with participation from teams from different islands"Through all these actions, the association seeks to bring the reality of people with disabilities closer to society and promote a change in perspective based on respect, empathy, and coexistence," states Molnar, who emphasizes that "we project the challenges of the future with hope, but also with work and responsibility in the present because real inclusion is built day by day."