Institutional Event | International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Rectorate Assembly Hall, with the opening by the Secretary General, Esther Zapater, who will contextualise the event within the framework of the UAB’s strategic actions in the field of equality and diversity. 

From 12:35 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., the conference “Caring Universities: the Quality Rights model in the academic community” will take place, delivered by Magda Casamitjana i Aguilà. Increasingly adopted by more institutions and following international recommendations from organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), this model aims to transform care practices for people with mental health difficulties and to guarantee environments that place the person at the centre of the care process. It also addresses issues such as the need to ensure active participation in decisions that affect them, to remove barriers in order to guarantee universal access to services, as well as to protect the privacy and confidentiality of information related to mental health. The model also highlights the importance of promoting deinstitutionalisation and strengthening rehabilitation and support in community settings capable of fostering inclusion, autonomy and comprehensive development. 

Next, Esther Zapater and the Vice-Rector for Students and Employability, Anabel Galán, will preside over the presentation of the Impuls Grants. These grants aim to facilitate access to higher education for students with disabilities and enable them to complete their studies under equitable conditions, contributing to the reduction of structural inequalities that still limit access and educational continuity. The grants may cover personal assistance services during the academic day and mobility expenses. In addition, they constitute an essential instrument for moving towards a university that guarantees complete educational pathways so that, once students have completed their studies, they can enter the labour market in accordance with their abilities. 

The event will conclude at 2:00 p.m. with the final address by the Secretary General and a performance by the Community Choir in the Sala Teatre of the Campus. This closing space, which combines culture and institutional reflection, aims to highlight the community dimension of the university and to reinforce the idea that inclusion is also articulated through collective participation in artistic and social activities that enrich campus life.