Spain introduces a groundbreaking Cognitive Accessibility regulation

Spain has adopted Royal Decree 707/2026, establishing the country's first nationwide cognitive accessibility standards to make public services, information and democratic participation easier to understand. The regulation will enter into force on 2 January 2027.

The new framework requires public authorities, businesses, transport operators, courts and political parties to provide information and services in accessible formats, including plain language, Easy Read documents, pictograms, visual supports and digital assistance tools.

Under the regulation, public administrations must simplify procedures, make official documents easier to understand and ensure that online services are cognitively accessible. Digital processes may also incorporate guidance tools, including artificial intelligence, to support users.

The justice system will be required to provide court decisions and judicial communications in clear, understandable formats. People with cognitive difficulties will have access to specialised support to help them understand and participate effectively in legal proceedings.

The decree also introduces new obligations for electoral processes. Political parties must publish election manifestos in plain language, while polling stations will be required to provide accessible signage and assistance for voters who need support.

In the labour market, employers must present job advertisements, recruitment processes and workplace information in a more accessible manner. Workers with intellectual disabilities will be entitled to request reasonable adjustments, including adaptations to training, documentation and workplace communication.

The measures also extend to public buildings, urban spaces, cultural institutions and transport networks. Stations, vehicles and passenger information systems will be progressively adapted to improve cognitive accessibility, with some transport-related changes being phased in over a longer implementation period.