The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has joined the initiative by the Department of Social Welfare of the Government of the Canary Islands to incorporate five new amphibious chairs into the city’s Adapted Bathing Service.
These add to the three already available, in a project that the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, described as “a further demonstration of this City Council’s commitment to people with reduced mobility, which is shown by the removal of barriers and the improvement of social inclusion for this group.”
Bermúdez, along with the Councillor for Social Welfare, Candelaria Delgado; the Councillors for Social Policies and Anaga, Charín González and Gladis de León; and the Director General of Disability in the Canary Islands, Dulce Gutiérrez, visited Las Teresitas, where the new chairs are already available for users of the Adapted Bathing Service.
During the visit, the mayor highlighted that “our aim is to enhance universal accessibility in this bathing area, as with these types of chairs, access to the sand and water is comfortable for users and support staff.”
Moreover, Candelaria Delgado noted that “with initiatives like this, we take a step forward in terms of accessibility, promoting the right to leisure for people with disabilities. We do not want anyone in Canarias to miss out on enjoying the sea due to reduced mobility. This is the essence of our policies: turning rights into action and ensuring equal opportunities on each island and in each municipality,” she stated.
The General Director of Disability, Dulce Gutiérrez, pointed out that “the delivery of these amphibious chairs is part of a broader project that has equipped 28 municipalities in the Canary Islands with 76 adapted devices, thanks to Next Generation funds. This not only strengthens personal autonomy, but also social inclusion, as enjoying leisure time on equal terms is also a fundamental right.”
For her part, Charín González stated that “thanks to the joint efforts of the City Council and the Government of the Canary Islands, we have new materials like these chairs, which assist in the integration of individuals with mobility difficulties, promoting active participation in leisure and therapeutic activities.” She also pointed out that “these chairs are made from lightweight and durable materials, ensuring their safety, buoyancy, and ease of handling.”
“Working towards universal accessibility is a priority across all five districts, especially in Anaga,” commented Gladis de León, who further stated that “these chairs, combined with the excellent bathing service, enhance our efforts for integration, allowing people with reduced mobility to participate actively in leisure activities and, more importantly, enjoy the sea safely and independently.”
According to the General Director of Disability, the five adapted wheelchairs delivered to the City Council of Santa Cruz—three for adults and two for children—are part of a total of 76 amphibious chairs (56 for adults and 20 for children) that the Department of Social Welfare has purchased via Next Generation Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (MRR) funds. This equipment has been distributed by the Government of the Canary Islands among approximately 30 municipalities across the archipelago.
Adapted Bathing Service
The Adapted Bathing Service of the Santa Cruz City Council, managed by Cruz Roja Española, serves nearly one hundred and fifty people, including direct and indirect users from the centres Amavir, Fundación Hospitalarias Campamento Inclusivo, C.A. Hermano Pedro, CAMP La Cuesta, and Mensajeros de la Paz.
The profile of those served reflects that 76% are women and the remaining 24% are men, with ages ranging from 18 to 90-100 years, with a prevalence among those over 40 years. Moreover, regarding disabilities, half of the users have a physical disability, followed by intellectual (30%), intellectual-physical (10%), and other disabilities (10%).
Services include the collection and processing of access requests to the service and subsequent technical assessment by the Social Work team; guidance on service and benefit processes (Dependency Law, IMV, disability assistance, Social Services, Resources, and Social Organisations); transport from home to Las Teresitas beach or the Maritime Park and back home, every day of the year, as well as professional personal assistance for enjoying the sea safely, using tools such as amphibious chairs, amphibious crutches, and support from a monitor-lifting aid.
Another initiative from IMAS is the organisation of various workshops aimed at fostering a common space for gathering and learning, which encourages the social participation of users and the development of a healthy lifestyle.
These include socio-educational workshops, such as Intergenerational Participation, Literature, Introduction to Writing, or Cognitive Stimulation; dynamic workshops, such as Aquagym, Painting, Sewing, or Music Therapy; and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention workshops.
