The city of Calpe held a meeting with ONCE (Spanish Organisation for the Blind) to analyse possible cooperation to help people with disabilities. Ana Salas, Mayor of Calpe, and Estela Medina, Area Manager of the ONCE in Alicante, were present. Iván Prieto, head of the organisation in Benidorm, and Sergio Barrera, 2er. Chairman of the ONCE in the Comunidad Valenciana.
The representatives of the ONCE dealt with various issues related to people with disabilities, such as accessibility in public transport and on roads, the importance of acoustic traffic lights for blind people and the regulation of the use of scooters as well as the adaptation of the pavement to the needs of people with disabilities.
The accessibility of education and leisure was also addressed, so that people with disabilities can usually participate in concerts, exhibitions and inclusive education.
In addition, the problems of people with disabilities when taking up employment were commented on. The ONCE Social Group believes that the municipalities have an important role to play in this area because of their proximity to the citizens, which is why it provides all of them with the resources of the ONCE Foundation and Inserta Empleo to involve people with disabilities in the consortium's labour market.
Regarding public jobs, the representatives of the ONCE Social Group informed the Mayor of Calpe of the importance of promoting responsible public procurement in favour of the social initiative's special employment centres, such as Ilunion, the companies of the ONCE Social Group.
The renovation of the ONCE kiosk park in Calpe with the new model, which is more accessible, more ecological and closer to the public, was also commented on.
During this meeting, the ONCE leaders expressed their concern to the Mayor of Calpe about illegal gambling, which is a serious problem not only for the organisation but also for the state coffers, as it leads to the loss of state revenue and, in some cases, to the misuse of people with disabilities and other people at risk of exclusion, who market illegal lotteries and who endanger the safety of citizens.
The Mayor has shown her willingness to cooperate and help in the implementation of the various activities carried out in Calpe to make the work of the social group ONCE visible.