Until now, this service was provided from Zaragoza, but the opening of a physical office and the addition of a professional in Teruel will make it possible to identify support needs earlier and provide closer assistance. The office will also facilitate coordination with the courts, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the law enforcement agencies, and the province's social and healthcare services.
During the first nine months of 2026, UAVDI Aragón opened 67 case files, only five of which involved Teruel. Although this figure does not show how many people needed help without requesting it, Atades considers it essential to raise awareness of the service and make it easier to access locally.
SUPPORT TO UNDERSTAND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES
UAVDI Aragón, established by Atades in 2015, has legal psychology professionals specializing in disabilities and witness psychology. Their role is to help people with cognitive difficulties understand judicial procedures and participate in them, whether they are involved as victims, witnesses or persons under investigation.
To do so, specialists assess each person's needs and propose adaptations such as simpler explanations, changes to the wording of questions, adjustments to interview times or tools to facilitate communication. The unit also provides specialized psychological care in situations involving violence and abuse.
The coordinator of UAVDI Aragón, Alejandro Aineto, said the new office represents "a fundamental step" in ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities can access the support they need regardless of where they live. Atades president Susana Álvarez stressed that the aim is to ensure that no one is left without assistance because of distance or a lack of awareness of the resource.
PRESENTATION OF THE NEW OFFICE IN TERUEL
The new office was presented this Thursday at the Spanish Government's Subdelegation in Teruel, at an event attended by the subdelegate of the Government, Enrique Gómez; Atades president Susana Álvarez; Teruel City Council's councillor for Family and Social Policies, Carmen Romero; and the dean of the Teruel Bar Association, José Paulino Esteban.
The opening comes amid new developments in judicial accessibility. On September 16, the Congress of Deputies approved a legislative reform introducing the role of the expert procedural facilitator, tasked with identifying the support needed to guarantee the participation of people with disabilities in judicial proceedings.
In addition, Atades and the Civil Guard in Aragon signed a cooperation agreement in September to improve the detection of these needs from the earliest police actions. Through the Teruel office, the organization aims to bring this coordination into everyday practice and help people who need it exercise their rights before the justice system.
