Last Tuesday, July 15, the Council of Ministers approved an important bill that marks a before and after in care for dependency and the rights of people with disabilities in Spain. This reform affects two key laws:

• The Law on the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for People in Situations of Dependency.
• The Law on the Rights of People with Disabilities and their Social Inclusion.

What Changes with This Reform?

The new legal text not only updates current regulations but also significantly expands recognized services and rights. Some of the main advancements are:

New Services in the Care Catalog The catalog of services is expanded to provide a more personalized response adapted to current needs:

• Care and support in housing, facilitating the person’s continued stay in their usual environment.
• Collaborative living models, which advocate for new, more humane, and sustainable forms of shared living.
• Loan of support products and personal assistance services, fundamental for the autonomy and daily life of many people with disabilities or dependency.

Recognized Rights Essential rights that were not fully guaranteed by law until now are incorporated:

• Universal accessibility, understood as a basic right for full participation in society.
• Telecare, as a permanent resource for the safety and companionship of people in vulnerable situations.

Technology Without Biases One of the most innovative points of the reform is the oversight of artificial intelligence development, to prevent algorithms or tools that may contain discriminatory biases towards people with disabilities. Technology must be an ally of inclusion, not a barrier.

Less Bureaucracy, More Accessibility Administrative procedures are simplified, making them more accessible and understandable for everyone, especially for people with greater difficulties.

Better Working Conditions for Better Care The law also recognizes that dignified, stable, and professionalized working conditions for caregivers are essential to guarantee quality, continuous, and safe care.

Accessibility Also in Buildings: Reform of the Horizontal Property Law

One of the most notable novelties is the modification of the Horizontal Property Law, with the aim of improving accessibility in buildings under a horizontal property regime (community of neighbors). As of this reform:

• Works aimed at ensuring accessibility are no longer optional to become obligatory when a resident needs them.
• Furthermore, the community of owners will be obliged to apply for available public aid and subsidies for these types of interventions if any neighbor requires them due to disability or age.

This change represents a key step forward in ensuring that the physical environment is not a barrier to the independent living of people with reduced mobility.

A Reform Focused on Dignity and Inclusion

This reform places people, their rights, their well-being, and their autonomy at the center. It advocates for a more humane, closer, and fairer care model, with a clear commitment to building a truly inclusive society. In the words of those who promoted this change, it is about moving towards a care system that not only assists but empowers. A brave step that shows that social progress is possible when there is political will and sensitivity towards diverse realities.