Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Planning

• Talk to Expanish first: Talk to your advisor before your program start date. Early conversations about your needs let us coordinate housing, academic accommodations, and local resources before you arrive. Nothing shared is used against you in the admissions process. Keep in mind throughout your application process, there are several moments in which to disclose information.

• Bring documentation: Carry your medical records, prescriptions, and any letters from your home university's disability services office. Have documents translated into Spanish where possible. A letter from your physician in the local language can make a significant difference in getting services.

• Medications: Bring a supply larger than you think you'll need, plus a written prescription list with generic names (not brand names, which differ by country). For controlled substances, carry the original pharmacy packaging and a doctor's letter. Contact the relevant consulate if you are unsure whether your medication is legal in the destination country.

Barcelona Accessibility Guide

Barcelona is widely considered one of the most accessible cities in Southern Europe. It has invested heavily in disability inclusion since the 1992 Olympics and holds international recognition for its accessible public spaces, beaches, and transport. Students with mobility, sensory, and learning disabilities will find the city reasonably well-equipped, though some historic areas present real challenges.

Physical & Mobility Access

Barcelona's street-level infrastructure is strong. Virtually every street corner in the Eixample grid  (the neighborhood where Expanish is located) has dropped curbs and smooth paving. The Gothic Quarter and Born, with their medieval cobblestones and narrow alleys, are significantly more difficult to navigate in a wheelchair or with mobility aids.

• Metro: 153 of 165 metro stations have elevators. Lines L2, L9, and L10 are fully step-free. The TMB app shows which stations are accessible in real time. Buses across the entire network have been fully adapted since 2007 with ramps and kneeling systems. All bus stops are accessible.

• Taxis: Adapted taxis (for wheelchair users) are available through Taxi Amic: +34 93 420 8088. Most taxi apps (Cabify, Bolt) allow you to request an accessible vehicle.

• Beaches: Barceloneta and Nova Icaria beaches have wooden walkway ramps to the shoreline, adapted showers, and amphibious beach wheelchairs available for free loan. The city's 'Accessible Beach' program runs June through September.

• Bikes & Scooters: Barcelona's Bicing bike-share and many e-scooter services are not designed for wheelchair users, but adaptive cycling is available through Espai de Mar (Barceloneta waterfront) with reservations.

• TMB Accessibility Tools — https://www.tmb.cat/en/get-to-know-tmb/universal-accessibility/accessible-public-transport

Barcelona's public transport authority with route planning for users with reduced mobility, elevator status maps, and tactile metro guides available in Braille.

Blind & Low Vision Students

Barcelona takes visual impairment access seriously. Metro stations have tactile guidance paths and audio announcements on all lines. Ticket machines have voice navigation. A tactile metro map and Braille guide (updated 2024) is available from TMB information points.

• ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles) — https://www.once.es

Spain's national organization for blind and visually impaired people, with offices across Barcelona. Provides orientation and mobility support, assistive technology guidance, and social services. ONCE's presence is visible throughout the city, their lottery vendors are a landmark. While primary services are for Spanish nationals, they can direct international visitors to resources and local support. Their office in Barcelona is at Diagonal 233.

• ACCDV (Catalan Association for Blind and Visually Impaired) — https://www.accdv.cat

Barcelona-based nonprofit offering social integration services, adapted computing classes, psychological support, and cultural activities for visually impaired people. More locally focused than ONCE and may be able to assist international students.

✓  Barcelona's Picasso Museum, MNAC, and Fundació Joan Miró all offer touch tours and audio descriptions. Ask at the visitor desk.

✓  Bring your preferred screen reader setup from home. Wi-Fi is widely available, and your existing assistive technology will work seamlessly.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Students

Spain uses Lengua de Señas Española (LSE), which is distinct from American Sign Language (ASL). This means that ASL-dependent communication will require a transition to written/visual communication tools while in Barcelona. However, the city is very technologically accessible.

• Metro & buses: Have visual displays for stops, door warnings, and route information. The new Transdev buses have audio induction loops.

• Museums & culture: Barcelona's major museums increasingly offer subtitled videos, captioned multimedia guides, and in some cases, Spanish Sign Language (LSE) tours on specific days. Check directly with each venue.

• FESOCA (Federació de Persones Sordes de Catalunya) — https://www.fesoca.org

The deaf federation for Catalonia. Can connect Deaf students with the local Deaf community and LSE interpreting resources. Website in Catalan; email inquiry is possible.

✓  Download apps like Google Live Transcribe (real-time captions) or Otter.ai before departure. These work well for in-person conversations in noisy environments and require no language switch.

✓  Spanish subtitled content is widely available on streaming platforms; switching your Spanish viewing to include subtitles is a simple habit to establish early.

ADHD, Learning Differences & Autism Spectrum

Barcelona is a sensory-rich, fast-paced, and often loud city. For students on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities, this can be both stimulating and overwhelming. Planning for quieter periods and spaces is important.

• Quiet spaces: The city has many quieter neighborhoods (Gràcia, Sant Gervasi) and green spaces (Parc de la Ciutadella, Parc Güell in the early morning) that offer relief from the intensity of the city center. Libraries (Biblioteca Joan Miró, Biblioteca Gabriel García Márquez) are calm, free, and often air-conditioned.

• Academic accommodations: Expanish's partner university, UViC (University of Vic), has a student support office. Disclose your learning needs to Expanish before arrival so we can coordinate with academic staff regarding exam accommodations, extended time, or note-taking support.

✓  Routine helps. Establishing a regular route, regular meals, and a known quiet space early in your semester will reduce cognitive load significantly.

Students of Color:

Community & Organizations

• ACSUR (Association for Cooperation and Development) - https://www.acsur.org

An NGO working on anti-racism, migration rights, and social justice. Organizes public events and educational campaigns. A good entry point for students interested in social justice organizing in Barcelona.

• Nexes Interculturals - https://www.nexes.org

A nonprofit that promotes intercultural dialogue, social inclusion, and human rights. Runs volunteering and exchange programs that connect international students with Barcelona's immigrant communities. A meaningful way to build cross-cultural relationships.

• SOS Racisme Catalunya - https://www.sosracismecatalunya.cat

Catalunya's primary anti-racist NGO. Provides reporting mechanisms for discrimination, legal support, and resources. If you experience racism during your stay, they can help. Website in Catalan and Spanish.

Online Communities

• Black and Abroad - https://blackandabroad.com

A digital community and platform for Black travelers sharing real stories, destination guides, and tips from the Black diaspora. Excellent resource for connecting with other Black students and travelers before and during your time in Barcelona.

• Travel Noire - https://travelnoire.com

A media platform serving the African Diaspora in travel. Their Barcelona and Spain content is specifically useful for understanding what life is like as a Black American in the city.

A Note on the Experience

Many Black and Asian American students report that Spain's diversity looks different from the U.S., and that race is not discussed in the same ways. You may encounter people who are curious about you in ways that feel intrusive, or who hold unconscious biases rooted in limited exposure. This doesn't make it okay — and it may require emotional labor on your part. Seek out your cohort, lean on your Expanish coordinator, and know that your experience and perspective are valuable exactly as they are.

LGBTQ+:

Organizations & Community Centers

• Barcelona LGBTI Centre - https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/lgtbi/en

Run by the city of Barcelona, this is the most comprehensive LGBTQ+ resource hub in the city. Three floors of meeting rooms, event spaces, advisory services, workshops, and a multimedia documentation center dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. Multiple organizations are headquartered here. Free and open to the public.

• Casal Lambda - https://www.lambdaweb.org

One of the oldest LGBTQ+ organizations in Spain. Offers a community meeting space, social events, legal and psychological counseling, and regular awareness campaigns. Located in Eixample. A cornerstone of Barcelona's queer civil society.

• Stop Sida - https://stopsida.org

A community organization focused on sexual health for LGBTQ+ people. Offers free and confidential HIV and STI testing, counseling, and peer support in multiple languages including English. A trusted resource for sexual health while abroad.

Neighborhoods

• L'Eixample Esquerra ('Gayxample') - https://www.visitbarcelona.com

The heart of Barcelona's LGBTQ+ scene, centered around Carrer del Consell de Cent and Carrer de Muntaner. Here you'll find LGBTQ+-owned cafes, bars, hotels, and cultural spaces. Head to Axel Hotel or Punto BCN to get a feel for the neighborhood. This area is lively, safe, and very queer-affirming year-round.

• Sitges (Day Trip)

Just 40 minutes from Barcelona by train, Sitges is a beloved coastal town with one of the most vibrant LGBTQ+ resort communities in Europe. Pride Sitges (late June) is known for its beach celebrations. Even outside of Pride season, Sitges has a strong queer culture.

Events

• Pride Barcelona - https://www.pridebarcelona.org

Held annually at the end of June with parades, concerts, and community events across the city. One of the largest Pride celebrations in Southern Europe. Mark your calendar.