Inclusion of Disabled Refugees in Spain

Authors: Malaika Hamid, Aishwarya Lakshmi, Devina Singh, Ruhma Mohsin and Saqib Khan

Markus Vähälä shares the background to the new report: Inclusive Development and Improved Accessibility: A Comparative Policy Analysis on the Educational Attainment, Employment Opportunities and Housing for Refugees with Disabilities in Spain and the EU.

Earlier this year, Citizen Network had the privilege of working with a team of students from the London School of Economics on a project created in partnership with Practera. Practera is a technology platform delivering experiential learning programs, managing programs and connecting students to industry projects and internship opportunities, and this report is the result of our joint project.

Citizen Network believes that the future is built together and by noticing the expertise we have in the inclusion movement we can find pathways and support to build more resilient communities and ensure wellbeing for all. Citizen Network collaborates with Plena Inclusion and works with over 700 individuals in more than 40 groups, locations and organisations around Spain to create community based and community led life for, with and by individuals with intellectual disabilities. This report will help us in providing new policy insights where inclusion policies become more relevant for creating resilient communities and societies in times of crisis and in times of uncertainty.

How can we bring people and groups who are in the danger of being marginalised together with a community that is skilled in protecting, supporting and including people with needs, like refugees or people with disabilities? 

What is the situation among refugees with disabilities during a crisis like the war in Ukraine or under constant societal development like people entering Europe through Spain? 

The findings in this report suggest that Spain has made significant progress in the inclusion of disabled refugees. The Spanish government has implemented various policies and programs to provide housing, education, and employment opportunities to refugees with disabilities. However, the effectiveness of these policies remains limited due to the lack of implementation at the local level.

Spain has shown greater efforts in promoting inclusive education, providing affordable housing, and creating employment opportunities for disabled refugees. However, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in providing access to specialized healthcare services and improving the implementation of existing policies at the local level. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers, NGOs and other stakeholders involved in refugee resettlement and integration in Spain and other EU countries.

We would like to thank the wonderful LSE student team: Aishwarya Lakshmi, Devina Singh, Malaika Hamid, Ruhma Mohsin and Saqib Khan for creating this report for us - it was a wonderful coooperative experience, thank you all!

Find out more about Practera at: https://practera.com

Read and download the free pdf in your browser, link below.

The publisher is Citizen Network. Inclusive Development and Improved Accessibility: A Comparative Policy Analysis on the Educational Attainment, Employment Opportunities and Housing for Refugees with Disabilities in Spain and the EU © Malaika Hamid, Aishwarya Lakshmi, Devina Singh, Ruhma Mohsin and Saqib Khan 2023.