Socialist Group Calls for Communication Support in Lanzarote
The Socialist Group at Lanzarote’s Cabildo is set to present a motion at the upcoming council meeting, condemning the fact that Lanzarote remains the only island in the Canary Islands where the Health Service does not provide communication aids for those unable to speak or use conventional writing.
Paula Corujo, a Socialist councillor, has urged the Canary Islands’ Health Department to urgently establish a dedicated system in Lanzarote for assessing and providing access to dynamic communicators, eye-tracking devices, and other Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems.
These tools are vital for individuals with severe communication difficulties, enabling them to express needs, emotions, and thoughts. They range from communication boards and pictograms to voice-output devices and eye-tracking communicators.
Corujo stressed, “We’re talking about something as basic as saying you’re in pain, you’re scared, you need help, or you want to communicate with your family.” She further asserted that, “Lanzarote cannot continue to silence those who have the right to communicate. Communication is autonomy, health, dignity, and participation.”
The Socialist Party highlighted that such systems are essential for individuals with conditions like cerebral palsy, Rett syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, rare diseases, and for those recovering from strokes or brain injuries.
Since 2019, these resources have been part of the National Health System’s common portfolio, yet no prescriptions for communicators or eye-trackers have been made in Lanzarote thus far. Corujo pointed out the “clear territorial inequality” this situation creates, leaving families uncertain about whom to approach or how to initiate a request for support.
“A person from Lanzarote has the same rights as anyone from other islands. What’s lacking is a clear, known, and efficient process that allows families to avoid going from one appointment to another without resolution,” she explained.
The motion calls for the Dr. José Molina Orosa University Hospital to designate a reference team to coordinate these requests and establish clear referral pathways.
Corujo noted that many families are unaware of their rights, while others who do know struggle to find a clear point of contact. “What we’re asking for is simple: Lanzarote should have the same access and opportunities as the rest of the Canary Islands. No one should lose their voice because they live on this island,” she concluded.
