The UN defines a disability as a long-term impairment that can limit a person’s ability to participate in society. It also defines poverty as an individual living off less than $2.15 per person per day. It is no secret that those with disabilities are at higher risk of issues like lack of security, low income, dependence and overall insecurity; those suffering from disability and poverty in Spain are no different. With the two often linked, those who experience one are often susceptible to experiencing the other, meaning those suffering from disabilities may experience multidimensional poverty. Multidimensional poverty refers to the various ways in which poverty itself is measured including health, education, security, infrastructure and more.

The examples shown above are ways in which individuals may experience many limitations, not just health-related ones. This not only makes it difficult for them to find their way out of poverty but also places those with disabilities in more vulnerable situations when it comes to quality of life.

Living With Both Disability and Poverty in Spain

In order to tackle both these issues head-on in Spain, the Spanish National Institute of Statistics conducted a survey to better understand its people in both 2021 and 2022. During this period, findings showed that by 2022, 18.1% of individuals aged 16-64 stated they had some sort of disability and were only able to work part-time. One should note that individuals with disabilities are more likely to face social exclusion at a rate of 92.6% compared to those without. This is without the added factor of poverty and how their disability has affected their economic standing. With the unemployment rate in 2022 standing at 21.4% in the disabled category, women and young women aged 16-65 held the lowest percentage.

Efforts continuously occur in an attempt to lower these numbers, especially after they hit a slight rise following the onset of COVID-19, which led to a rise in poverty and food insecurity once more. With programs like Ingreso Mínimo Vital (IMV), created in 2020 by royal decree-law, the goal is to prevent poverty and other forms of social exclusion from spreading further while also supporting those already affected. By 2024, it was shown in Spain’s social security statistics that Ingreso Mínimo Vital had already benefited 2,050,000 people living in 674,000 households total. With a monthly benefit of 658.81 euros per individual, the efforts made have proven highly effective for the people of Spain, and today, those same plans continue to move forward.

Solutions

The Disability Strategy 2022-2030 originated in 2022. This strategy takes into account those with disabilities, incorporating perspectives on women and children. Spain then started the European Child Guarantee program aimed at ensuring there is no exclusion among children and to support the children of Spain. The National ECG Plan has dedicated itself to ensuring that every child and adolescent has access to essential, inclusive and high-quality services. 

By working closely with public administrations, society and other partners, the plan promotes opportunities for early childhood education and care (ECPI), extracurricular activities, quality health care, nutritious meals and safe comfortable housing in the hopes of helping every child thrive. Right now, communities like Aragon have started early care and disability preventative programs for rural areas, while others like La Rioja have begun to grant financial assistance to children aged 0-6 while they are on a waiting list to receive universal care. Madrid also has a similar program giving grants to those from 0-3 years of age. Spain is doing all of this with the goal of universal access and 100% coverage.

Financial assistance like this through the extension of coverage and scholarships is important because it helps to give children access to vital life-saving treatments for things like communication disorders, motor disorders or learning disorders, just to name a few. This is especially important for those in the early preventative programs as this allows for outpatient or home-level care in rural areas through the assistance of nonprofits. Not only does this help with the children who originally did not have access to treatments, but this also helps to promote positive parenting, allowing parents to build positive family dynamics within their communities.

Looking Ahead

When further addressing the Spanish Disability Strategy 2022-2030, Isabel Rodríguez stated, “The minister also indicated that the initiative is a response to other cross-cutting challenges included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, such as the climate emergency and the demographic challenge. The strategy also has an impact on rural areas, small towns, and the countryside, where people with disabilities also live and need to be listened to, accompanied, and cared for.” Providing things like jobs, housing and better educational opportunities for people with disabilities could significantly reduce their vulnerability.

In areas with high poverty rates, the risks go beyond just financial hardships. While these communities may experience higher crime and violence rates, it is important to recognize that despite the challenges Spain overall has faced, it remains one of the safest countries in Europe regarding violent crime. This resilience provides a solid foundation for continued progress in accessibility and inclusion, slowly but surely making headway when it comes to disability and poverty in Spain, paving the way for an exceptionally bright future for all!

– Imani Ambers

Imani is based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash