Equal opportunities and accessibility for people with disabilities

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1. The law guarantees the right to equal opportunities for people with disabilities. People are covered if they have been recognized a disability degree of 33 percent or higher.
2. The law applies to telecommunications and the information society, public spaces and building, transportation, goods and services available to the public, and relations with public administrations. In employment, it only applies as a supplementary rule.
3. The right to equal opportunities is considered violated when there is direct or indirect discrimination, harassment, failure to meet accessibility requirements, failure to make reasonable adjustments, or failure to comply with legally established positive action measures.
4. The Government will set basic conditions of accessibility and non-discrimination, the same for all of Spain, gradually over time and in the scope of the obligations.
5. The law creates promotion measures (awareness campaigns, research, accessibility plans) and defense measures: a voluntary arbitration system, judicial protection with no cap on compensation, and protection against retaliation.
6. Homeowners' associations must carry out accessibility works on common elements for people with disabilities or people over 70, if the cost does not exceed three months of common expenses. The law also creates the right to unpaid leave to care for a relative with a disability who cannot take care of themselves.

Who it affects

• People with a recognized disability degree of 33 percent or higher: They hold the right to equal opportunities and the protection measures of the law.
• Public administrations: They must adopt anti-discrimination, positive action and accessibility measures, and promote campaigns, research and plans.
• Businesses and providers of goods and services to the public: They must meet the basic accessibility and non-discrimination conditions within the set deadlines.
• Homeowners' associations: They must pay for accessibility works on common elements up to three months of common expenses.
• Employees and civil servants: They can request unpaid leave of up to one year to care for a relative with a disability who cannot take care of themselves.

Words worth knowing

Acción positiva (positive action)

Specific support to offset the disadvantages of people with disabilities, such as financial aid or personal assistance.

Ajuste razonable (reasonable adjustment)

A change to the environment or conditions so a person with a disability can participate equally, as long as it is not a disproportionate burden.

Diseño para todos (design for all)

Designing environments, products and services from the start so everyone can use them.

Excedencia (unpaid leave)

A situation where a worker stops working and receiving pay for a period, keeping the right to return to their job.

Grado de minusvalía (disability degree)

A percentage recognized by the Administration to measure a person's disability.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries