Andalusia promotes adapted tests in public job offers for people with intellectual disabilities

Andalusia has taken a step to lead the adaptation of public employment selection processes for people with intellectual disabilities to access reserved places in accordance with the legally established quota. The Andalusian Parliament unanimously supports an initiative proposed by the group For Andalusia for Congress to proceed with a modification of the current legal framework. At the same time, and based on regional regulations, the Andalusian government is already preparing its new selection processes to include these situational tests in the assessment of the capacities and skills of candidates with intellectual disabilities.

The proposal approved unanimously and in a single reading (which guarantees immediate entry into force) includes the initiative of the Andalusian Parliament to ask Congress for a reform of section 2 of article 61 of the Law on the organic status of the civil service with the aim that “the access tests for people with intellectual disabilities consist of a situational test to assess the abilities and skills necessary to perform the tasks of the job”. In other words, it is about developing tests that simulate the conditions and functions of the position to which they aspire.

The Por Andalucía bill urges the Spanish government to change the legislation and has the favourable report from the Board of Governors (a circumstance that did not occur the previous time this proposal was processed). It also has the support of all groups in the Regional Chamber.

Until Congress approves this change in law, the proposal is not really valid. But in the case of Andalusia, steps have already been taken in this direction. The Andalusian Civil Service Law Approved in 2023, it includes the possibility of carrying out these situation tests and that is why the Ministry of Justice and Civil Service is already working to incorporate this measure into the selective processes that are carried out.

During the year 2023, they were presented 715 candidates in different processes of the Junta de Andalucía in areas reserved for people with intellectual disabilities. To facilitate the process, examination rooms were set up in the eight provinces with waiting areas for accompanying persons and before the start of each part of the exercise, class leaders gave instructions on how to answer the questions.