Alicante Takes a Step Forward in the Inclusion of People with Functional Diversity

Sometimes reading and interpreting signs can be complicated, if not impossible, for people with some type of functional diversity. This creates an increasing gap for them, where even the simplest texts can become a challenge, hindering their complete integration into daily life. Therefore, the Alicante City Council has taken a further step in the inclusion of these individuals by installing pictograms in municipal buildings and facilities, making them much easier to understand.

Councilor for Social Welfare, Begoña León, has signed an agreement with the president of the Occupational Leisure Association for People with Intellectual Disabilities (AODI), María Asunción Arroyo, for the installation of these pictorial signs that help people with functional diversity understand informational signs without needing to read them.

These elements will be placed in the department's offices, social zone teams, community social centers, and municipal socio-educational centers. Additionally, the agreement will extend to the Department of Sports to place them in sports facilities as well.

"The Alicante City Council is committed to facilitating the elimination of all types of barriers to achieve the integration of people with functional diversity, not only physical but also intellectual," León emphasizes. "In this case, through the installation of pictograms, which are visual aids that represent concepts or places and help to understand their meaning without needing to read," adds the councilor.

Currently, AODI is carrying out the 'Understanding My Environment' project on cognitive accessibility in the city. The main objective is the adaptation in this area of various resources such as shops, associations, and public services.

The aim of the signed agreement is "to promote actions and activities that allow people with functional diversity to integrate into society so that they can develop their abilities, navigate society, and lead a dignified life," explains León. The service will consist of AODI studying, designing, and creating the pictograms for subsequent installation.