Aspace Catalunya places physical activity as a key therapeutic intervention within a health, social and educational care model for people with neurodevelopmental disorders, cerebral palsy and highly complex multiple disabilities.
An institutional visit that reinforces the recognition of the model
The Secretary General of Sports, Abel Garcia, visited the Aspace Catalunya facilities in Montjuïc this morning, accompanied by Santi Siquier, responsible for the Coordination and Monitoring of Sports Policies.
On behalf of the Aspace Catalunya Foundation, Elena Puigdevall, general director; Carlos Varela, director of Transversal Operations and the Social Area; Tamara Biedermann, director of the Health Area; Olga González, director of Institutional Relations, Communication and Marketing; Lola Aguilar, head of Sports, and Berta Farreres, psychopedagogical coordinator, participated in the meeting.
The visit allowed us to learn first-hand about a comprehensive care model in which physical activity and adapted sports are integrated as part of the therapeutic process for people with neurodevelopmental disorders, cerebral palsy and highly complex multiple disabilities.
In this context, the Secretary General of Sport, Abel Garcia, has highlighted Aspace Catalunya as “a cross-country entity”, highlighting its strategic role in the connection between the areas of health, sport and inclusion.
Physical activity as an evidence-based therapeutic intervention
During the tour, Aspace Catalunya has presented a pioneering model that integrates physical activity and adapted sports within interdisciplinary neurorehabilitation teams, as a health, social and educational intervention based on scientific evidence.
This approach allows for improvement of the health, functional autonomy and social participation of the people treated, and responds to the growing challenges associated with the increase in clinical complexity and life expectancy of this group.
Access as a fundamental right
Aspace Catalunya defends universal access to physical activity as a fundamental right for people with neurodevelopmental disorders, cerebral palsy and highly complex multiple disabilities.
In this sense, the entity works to ensure that physical activity and adapted sports form part of the care process, not as a complementary element, but as an essential therapeutic intervention, aligned with international recommendations on health and inclusion.
A comprehensive care model aligned with the challenges of the system
The Aspace Catalunya model connects the health, social and educational spheres in a comprehensive care proposal that incorporates physical activity as a key part of the care and personal development process.
In this context, the entity has highlighted the need to continue advancing in the institutional recognition of physical activity and adapted sport as part of the service portfolio, as well as in its prescription as a specialized intervention within the system.
Innovation, specialization and attention to high complexity
The visit included different highly specialized spaces, such as the neurorehabilitation area and the therapeutic gym, the therapeutic pool, the day hospitals, including the Petit Aspace service for children aged 0 to 3, as well as the day care and residential environments.
These devices are part of a unique model that integrates highly specialized professional teams and is positioned as a benchmark in the care of people with high complexity.
Looking to the future: the Alba Project
The day also served to present the lines of future development, with special emphasis on the Alba Project, a strategic project that foresees the creation of new highly specialized infrastructures and that incorporates, among other lines, the development of therapeutic physical activity.
This project represents a strategic opportunity to consolidate and scale this model as a key piece within the care system, with an impact on health, quality of life and social inclusion.
From a strategic vision of the system, and in the words of Elena Puigdevall, general director of Aspace Catalunya, “Integrating physical activity as part of the care process is not just an innovation, but a necessity to guarantee quality care for people with high complexity".
