The presentation in Zaragoza was attended by Infanta Elena de Borbón, Director of Projects at Fundación MAPFRE, who defended the need to “look beyond labels.” “When we get to know people up close, we discover their abilities, talent and much to contribute,” she said during an event open to institutions, social organizations and Atades users.
The solidarity bus will visit 20 Spanish cities and 11 autonomous communities over two months, always alongside a local association. In Zaragoza, the campaign is supported by Atades to bring citizens closer to the reality of people with intellectual disabilities, borderline intellectual functioning and autism, as well as the daily work carried out with them and their families.
INFANTA ELENA CALLS IN ZARAGOZA FOR PREJUDICES ABOUT DISABILITY TO BE BROKEN
Infanta Elena encouraged people in Zaragoza to visit an initiative aimed at challenging the way disability is still viewed. “It is an open and free experience that helps us reflect, break down prejudices and discover a closer, more human perspective,” she said, expressing her hope that the project would help move society toward greater inclusion.
Adrián Gutiérrez de la Dehesa, head of the activity at Fundación MAPFRE, explained that ‘Change the Filter’ seeks to break “stereotypes and preconceived ideas” and focus on each person’s life project. The campaign aims to showcase their abilities, talent and everything they can contribute, placing the labels associated with disability in the background.
For her part, Atades president Susana Álvarez Roy recalled that the association was founded 60 years ago by families who wanted their children to have the same opportunities as the rest of society. Today, it provides support throughout the entire life cycle, from early intervention to adulthood and aging, adapting to each person’s needs.
WHAT CAN BE SEEN ON THE “CHANGE THE FILTER” BUS IN ZARAGOZA
The mobile unit offers an immersive and participatory experience in which visitors can discover the extent to which prejudices influence the way they see other people. The tour includes real-life testimonies, audiovisual content and activities that show the same story from two different perspectives: one shaped by stereotypes and the other seen when they are removed.
There is also a photocall with different filters, an Atades information point and the collective digital mural “Perspectives That Add Up,” where visitors can leave a reflection after completing the tour. The experience also includes a coffee tasting with different filters as a metaphor for how the same reality can be perceived in different ways.
The “Change the Filter” bus in Zaragoza can be visited this Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6, in César Augusto Square, opposite the Church of San Juan de los Panetes. Admission is free, with opening hours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and activities designed to bring intellectual disability closer to the entire community.
