Protected by the law
There are several laws which protect and enforce the rights of handicapped persons.

The constitution: Article 51 of Title I stipulates that public powers will guarantee the defense of consumers, protecting �through efficient means� the safety, health and legitimate economic interests of these people.

The Spanish constitution also prohibits any form of discrimination (article 14) and protects the physically handicapped (article 49), obliging the government to carry out a policy of planning, treatment, rehabilitation and integration for people who are physically, sensorially or pyschologically handicapped. These persons will receive the specialized attention they deserve and be protected especially so they can exercise these rights.

Law on Defending Consumer Rights: Lawmakers established that government agencies with jurisdiction over consumer affairs must offset situations of inferiority. Specifically, article 23 of chapter VII urges governments to adopt or encourage adecuate measures to make up for or offset situations of inferiority, subordination or defenselessness that consumers might be in, individually or collectively.

Law 13/1982 on social integration of the handicapped says construction, enlargement and overhauling of publicly or privately owned buildings earmarked for use involving affluence of the public, as well as planning and design of public streets, parks and gardens of the same characteristics will be done in such a way that handicapped people have access them to them and can use them.

In gas stations where people have to pump their own fuel, employees are obliged to do this for handicapped customers.

People who have limited movement because of a handicap have parking places set aside especially for them on streets, and in loading and unloading areas, unless city authorities order otherwise.

Under Spanish law a person is considered disabled if their degree of handicap is equal to or greater than 33%, besides Social Security pensioners declared incapacitated to one of several degrees of severity and pensioners of passive class who receive a retirement pension or permanent disability payments.

Law 51/2003 on equal opportunities, non-discrimination and universal accessibility for person with disabilities grants legal backing to affirmative action. These initiatives serve to prevent or compensate for disadvantages or special difficulties that persons with disability have in joining and participating fully in politcal, economic, cultural and social life. To this effect governments are called on to adopt affirmative action measures for people with disabilities who suffer a greater degree of discrimination or have reduced equality of opportunity: women with disabilities, people with severe disabilities, those who cannot represent themselves, those who suffer acute social exclusion because of their handicap and usually live in rural areas.