More than a hundred professionals and leaders in the social, health, and business fields gathered yesterday at the headquarters of the FIDE Foundation in Madrid for the official presentation of the Claudia Tecglen Foundation. This new organization’s main mission is to “reduce the power of disability” by focusing on mitigating the challenges faced by over 10% of the Spanish population living with some form of disability, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The foundation is structured around several strategic pillars aimed at protecting and strengthening the mental health of people with disabilities. These areas include psychological coping, support for entrepreneurship, inclusion, awareness, empowerment, research, and education. During the event, Dr. Juan Abarca, president of HM Hospitals, presented the results of a pilot program for the first Intercommunity Network against Suicide in People with Disabilities and their Families. This project, carried out in collaboration with HM Hospitals, has trained 60 healthcare professionals and has already begun to show encouraging results in terms of family integration and dispelling myths surrounding disability. The average satisfaction of participants reached a notable 4.84 out of 5.
Dr. Abarca emphasized the need to identify and address vulnerabilities associated with disabilities, stating that this duty is part of human responsibility. The Claudia Tecglen Foundation emerged as an evolution of the Convives con Espasticidad Association, founded by Claudia Tecglen in 2008. With the goal of expanding its impact, the foundation has increased its team and established collaborations with organizations in the business and third sectors.
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees includes prominent figures such as Javier Colás, Jorge Agustí, Isabel Lozano, Claudia Tecglen herself, as well as Marta Emerson and Dr. Juan Abarca as Honorary Patrons. It also has a group called “Inclusion Cultivators,” composed of outstanding professionals in various fields who provide their strategic vision to promote inclusion.
The health area of the foundation is led by Dr. Carmen Mateos Segura and Dr. Darío Fernández Delgado, while ambassadors like Rocío Molpeceres, Miguel Camacho, and Alberto Torres represent a shining example of diversity and leadership in the community. During the presentation, Torres and Camacho emphasized their commitment to show that disability and talent can coexist naturally.
Former Minister of Health, Ana Pastor, highlighted the importance of the A.M.A. Foundation and its relationship with the spirit of the Claudia Tecglen Foundation, which promotes inclusion and solidarity. At the same time, the Special Mission Ambassador of the UN Convention on Disability, Jesús Celada, expressed how this new foundation contributes to humanizing and enriching the social environment.
A relevant piece of information shared by the ONCE Foundation highlights that employment is the second most influential factor in the mental health of people with disabilities. It is estimated that for every person with a disability who accesses employment, the state saves around 13,000 euros in social costs. This context reinforces the foundation’s work in terms of labor inclusion through initiatives such as “Include and Differentiate,” a program that facilitates the effective incorporation of people with disabilities into the workforce.
Claudia Tecglen closed the event with a powerful statement: “Inclusion is not just a right; it is the most profitable business advantage that exists.” With this vision, the foundation aims to generate knowledge, conviction, and real commitment to inclusion. For those interested in collaborating, a website has been set up where more information about the foundation’s activities can be found.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
