Torremolinos, a coastal city in Spain’s Málaga province, is making significant strides in accessibility, aiming to become a model for inclusive tourism and community living. The city council is collaborating with the Fundación Autismo Sur (Autism South Foundation) to ensure municipal buildings are universally accessible, going beyond simply providing physical access to incorporating cognitive accessibility into the design and implementation of building features.
The initiative focuses on creating spaces where individuals with diverse abilities can navigate independently, understand their surroundings, and participate fully in community life. This isn’t merely about ramps and elevators; it’s about clear signage, tactile paving, and a thoughtful approach to information delivery that caters to a wide range of cognitive needs.
A key component of the project is the development of accessible signage. A technical team is designing the signage based on guidelines established in the ‘Guide to good practices for accessible signage in buildings’ published by the Regional Ministry of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality of Andalusia. This guide provides a catalog of accessible pictograms, ensuring consistency and clarity. However, the city isn’t stopping at simply following guidelines. A crucial step involves validation by a team comprised of four individuals with diverse functional disabilities, all trained in accessibility regulations. This team reviews and analyzes the proposed signage and itineraries, ensuring they are not only legally compliant but also practical and meaningful in everyday life.
The validation process is designed to identify and address potential issues that might not be apparent to designers without lived experience. The team provides feedback, leading to revisions and refinements of the signage and routes. This collaborative approach underscores the city’s commitment to genuine inclusivity, prioritizing the perspectives of those who will directly benefit from the improvements.
Currently, the project is focused on the Torremolinos City Hall, which will be the first municipal building to achieve universal accessibility. The initial phase involves the installation of nearly 40 plaques and almost 20 directories, all designed with clear language, accessible pictograms, and positioned at appropriate heights. Following the completion of the City Hall project, the initiative will be gradually rolled out to other municipal spaces throughout Torremolinos.
The ‘Guide to good practices for accessible signage in buildings’ emphasizes the ultimate goal: “the generation of a signage system that is comprehensible through symbols or pictograms, locating them correctly and allowing people, regardless of their intellectual and/or cognitive capacity, to orient themselves, move around, communicate, reach, understand or use the different spaces in the most autonomous way possible in different spaces, avoiding situations of disorientation, frustration, discrimination and/or social exclusion.”
Fundación Autismo Sur highlights that accessibility is not simply about physical entry, but about the ability to participate. As a representative from the foundation stated, “Accessibility is not just about being able to enter, it’s about being able to participate. Very soon everything will be installed and the Torremolinos City Hall will be 100% accessible.”
This commitment to accessibility extends beyond physical infrastructure. Torremolinos has established a Local Coordinating Table for Urban Accessibility, a technical space for coordination and information sharing, which will hold its first meeting in the coming weeks. This demonstrates a proactive approach to ongoing improvement and collaboration with stakeholders.
the city’s cultural and festive events are designed to be inclusive, safe, and accessible, positioning Torremolinos as a leader in promoting accessibility and inclusion policies. This holistic approach, encompassing both physical spaces and community events, underscores the city’s dedication to creating a welcoming and equitable environment for all residents and visitors.
The work in Torremolinos reflects a growing global awareness of the importance of cognitive accessibility. While physical accessibility standards have become increasingly common, ensuring that information and environments are understandable to individuals with cognitive differences – including those with autism, dementia, or intellectual disabilities – is a more recent and crucial development. The city’s partnership with Fundación Autismo Sur and its emphasis on validation by individuals with disabilities are exemplary practices that other municipalities can learn from.
The city’s efforts are particularly noteworthy given the increasing focus on inclusive tourism. Travelers with disabilities are a significant and growing market, and destinations that prioritize accessibility are likely to attract a wider range of visitors. Torremolinos’ commitment to universal accessibility positions it as a forward-thinking and welcoming destination for all.
