The City Council of Galapagar introduces for the first time the Fast Pass wristband and sensory kits from Civil Protection for the Patron Saint Festivities in honour of the Most Holy Christ of the Mercedes, which will be celebrated in September.
The City Council of Galapagar is finalising preparations for the Patron Saint Festivities in honour of the Most Holy Christ of the Mercedes, which will take place in September. This year, the government team has committed to a comprehensive package of inclusion and universal accessibility measures, aiming for all residents to enjoy the festivities without exclusions.
The main novelty is the implementation of the Fast Pass wristband, a device that will allow people with disabilities to access the fairground attractions prioritised, avoiding long queues and waiting times. Those who wish for more information can write to inclusion@galapagar.es.
Additionally, the Galapagar Civil Protection Group will have self-regulation sensory kits, which include noise-cancelling headphones, sensory toys, and items to assist people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or sensory hypersensitivity who may suffer overloads from noise and crowds.
To ensure adequate attention, next September, the staff of Civil Protection and the Local Police will receive a three-hour online training conducted by Autism Friendly, titled “Neurodiversity and Autism: Tools for Police and Emergency Response.” The course, which has a practical focus, aims to equip professionals with guidelines to identify needs, communicate, and provide an effective and respectful response.
These measures add to established initiatives from the past two years, such as the Noise-Free Fair, which reserves an inclusive time slot daily from 19:00 to 21:00 hours without sound emissions throughout the fairground. An accessible reserved area will also be set up in the Plaza de la Constitución, in front of the Ricardo León Municipal Library, so that people with reduced mobility and their companions can comfortably watch the concerts.
The Councillor for Inclusion, José María Escudero, emphasised that the true meaning of the patronal celebrations is to achieve the participation of all residents without exclusions. Galapagar was one of the first municipalities in the Community of Madrid to obtain the “Autism Friendly” seal, and in recent years has implemented inclusive signage with pictograms in municipal facilities, the first EBO classroom for students with disabilities, assisted therapy programs with dogs in ASD classrooms, and the assisted reading project with “Perico.”
Inclusion also encompasses adapted cultural programming at the Municipal Library, sign language interpretation at public events, and documents in easy-to-read format. In the sports field, the partnership with FEMADDI has enabled the creation of the first municipal 8-a-side football team for people with intellectual disabilities and the first paralympic cycling team in the municipality. All of this is complemented by free sign language courses and awareness workshops on autism for municipal workers, families, and residents.
The Patron Saint Festivities of Galapagar will take place in September, with a programme that is yet to be defined, but already looks set to be the most inclusive in its history. Residents can check the schedules and details of the inclusive activities through the official channels of the City Council.
You may also like
