Course: "Disability and the elderly".

There is great concern in the EU about the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, their integration into society on an equal footing with others and the provision of the necessary support for them to achieve this goal, as reflected in the relevant EU legislation. A concern that we have made our own and which has led to a greater awareness and specialisation of the judiciary with regard to people with disabilities and judicial procedures for modifying their capacity, abandoning a solely protectionist position to combine it with a position that is more protective of the rights of the person, of their full development, dignity and personal autonomy.

Within this framework we tend to think, due to their undeniable importance, of people with disabilities up to middle age, involuntarily forgetting older people, who deserve special and specific attention, especially bearing in mind that in Spain the population over 65 years of age exceeds 8.5 million, and that around 10% suffer from medium to severe cognitive impairment, with the great vulnerability that this implies, which is increased if these people live in a situation of loneliness. For all these reasons, the present course is considered appropriate, in order to become fully aware of the transcendence of the subject and to delve into judicial specialisation in this respect.

Matia Fundazioa participates in this course organised by the General Council of the Judiciary and in which, among other topics, aspects related to "Accessibility in the judicial field. Elimination of Barriers". Towards a future without barriers. The friendly cities project". Mayte Sancho, planning director of Matia Fundazioa, will give a talk on: "General accessibility and the friendly cities project".