Carme Guinea Comas: Society must be more open to listening to the wishes of people with disabilities

The +Tu Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Through its four centers, located in Barcelona, ​​Girona, Lleida, and Reus, it serves more than 900 people with intellectual or age-related disabilities, and their families.

How has the defense of the rights of people with disabilities, both intellectual and age-related, evolved over the last forty years?

— +Tú is the first guardianship foundation established in Spain in 1985. It was created under the auspices of the LISMI law (1982). At that time, +Tú was founded with the aim of enabling people to exercise their rights regardless of their circumstances, supporting them through guardianship and conservatorship. Later, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) moved away from the concept of substituted capacity: decision-making now belongs to the people with disabilities themselves. Within the framework of the Convention, we have all evolved, but society's adaptation and transformation are slow. Now, the Civil Code, currently before the Catalan Parliament, will become an excellent tool for defending all these rights from a holistic perspective.

What have been the main achievements within these four decades?

— First, we address the needs of families of people with intellectual disabilities, as well as the individuals themselves who lack a family or support network to ensure their future well-being and life goals. Subsequently, we expanded our services to include people with disabilities related to aging. Another significant milestone is our commitment to providing accessible care, with the establishment of four centers, one in each province. In recent years, we have adapted our model to the new legal framework. Forty years later, we have a well-established team of professionals dedicated to providing high-quality support and guidance, and who are committed to ongoing training, enabling them to adapt to social and demographic changes. Finally, I would highlight our technological innovation and research in the areas of disability and support services.

How important is networking when it comes to building people's life projects?

— Each person is unique and irreplaceable. No two support plans are the same, because each person has a different life story and circumstances. Support is agreed upon jointly with the individuals. Our Foundation operates independently; it is not conceived as a service provider, nor as a dependent entity. Therefore, networking with organizations and professionals in the sector is essential for us. To provide the right support for each person, we need the collaboration of residential care facilities, social service organizations, sports facilities, workshops, occupational centers, businesses, and more.

What are the challenges to be faced in the coming years?

— The great challenge lies in helping to ensure the effective realization of the rights of people with disabilities. We want to be the driving force behind social transformation, so that people with support needs can actively participate in society as full citizens, with equal opportunities and on equal terms. We are still a long way from what a truly inclusive society for people who need these services would look like. In a few years, the Foundation should be at the heart and mind of Catalan society.