The day center for people with disabilities in Benalmádena, promoted by the Benalmádena Association for Disability Care (ABAD), is nearing completion, with works scheduled to finish by the end of June. However, the entity, which supports 202 users monthly, faces a funding shortfall to cover project expenses, needing over half a million euros in addition to contributions from the City Council, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and an upcoming grant from the Provincial Council of Málaga.
Teresa Muñoz, president of ABAD, highlighted the 25-year wait for this project and the need for approximately 600,000 euros to finalize it. The association is requesting payment extensions, acknowledging the challenge of meeting future financial obligations. "We hope the public will ultimately help us," Muñoz stated, emphasizing the importance of addressing existing needs.
The total budget for the main area of the building, spanning over 1,000 square meters in the northern part of Santangelo, Benalmádena, with sea views, amounts to 2,400,000 euros. The facilities will include five multifunctional spaces, physiotherapy and individual treatment rooms, specialized care areas, a nursing station, a dining room, courtyards, green spaces, changing rooms, and adapted parking. The center is designed to serve individuals with disabilities from Benalmádena, as well as Torremolinos, Cártama, and other areas in the province.
ABAD provides services throughout the lifespan, with around 6,000 annual attendances. Its offerings include Early Childhood Care (0-6 years), specialized therapies, physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychology for all ages. It also features a group leisure and free time space with cultural outings, excursions, and workshops, also intended to provide "hours of family respite."
The association was founded half a century ago out of the concern of a group of mothers seeking more affordable and accessible therapies for their children with special needs, promoting "total integration for disability." The new day center is considered a vital resource for individuals with severe disabilities who currently remain at home or must travel outside the municipality.
Petri Tejero, vice-president of ABAD, shared her personal experience as the mother of a user with an intellectual disability, emphasizing the support received from the association for emotional management, schooling, and the development of social skills and independence. Catalina Ruiz, another founding member, recalled the lack of resources in the area decades ago, necessitating travel to other towns for early intervention services like speech and physical therapy.
The call for support is directed at public and private entities, as well as the general public, inviting contributions through the association's website. "Every little bit helps build the mountain," Tejero emphasized, highlighting the importance of collective contributions to complete the center, which will benefit young people with disabilities across the Costa del Sol.
Ruiz added that the project also envisions the future possibility of establishing supported living accommodations on the same site, ensuring a long-term care solution for individuals with disabilities when their family members can no longer provide it. The completion of the day center is seen as a benefit not only for Benalmádena but for the entire Costa del Sol, as places are managed by the Regional Government of Andalusia.
