The island institution has invested in facility upgrades, now featuring a new classroom specifically designed to meet the needs of the ASD community. This space is equipped with areas for individual and group learning, personal autonomy zones, a ball pit, a relaxation area, and audiovisual equipment.
Pictogram signage throughout the classroom aims to aid users' orientation, comprehension, and communication. This initiative is part of a collaboration spanning over two decades between the Council and the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of God, adapting care to the evolving needs in intellectual disability and mental health.
“"The sustained collaboration between public institutions and entities with such a deep-rooted history on our island to continue building a more inclusive society. Gran Canaria has made significant progress in caring for dependent individuals, and we want to keep strengthening a care network that places people at the center of public policies."
The Minister of Social Policy and Accessibility, Isabel Mena, highlighted that the expansion addresses a real need for families, aiming to ensure specialized and personalized care. Meanwhile, the managing director of San Juan de Dios, Lorenzo Esma, expressed gratitude for the institutional support and emphasized the model of care based on dignity and hospitality.
Currently, the Ciudad de San Juan de Dios in El Lasso provides 200 socio-health places, distributed across residential and day care resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities, in addition to a specialized mental health residence. The cooperation between the Council and the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of God began in 2002.
