Linda(43)

After a car accident at 31 I've been in a wheelchair. In Maastricht — a city with cobblestones, narrow sidewalks and hills — my daily life was a constant obstacle. My adapted rental home cost €1,400 per month and the waiting list for suitable housing was five years. When a friend living in Nerja invited me, I discovered a world of difference.

The Spanish coast, and Nerja in particular, is surprisingly accessible. The paseo marítimo — the seafront promenade — is fully wheelchair-friendly. Burriana beach has a servicio de baño adaptado: adapted beach wheelchairs and volunteers who help you into the water, completely free. Most restaurants have street-level terraces. The flat coastal area is a breath of fresh air after hilly Maastricht.

My NIE application and empadronamiento went standard. What was different: applying for the certificado de discapacidad — the Spanish disability recognition certificate. Through the Centro de Valoración y Orientación in Málaga my Dutch disability assessment was converted. The process took four months. With this certificate I'm entitled to free public transport, tax deductions and priority for social housing.

As a graphic designer I work remotely for Dutch and Spanish clients. My autónomo registration was standard. I pay the Seguridad Social contribution of €330 per month and file quarterly returns through modelo 303 and modelo 130. My gestoría in Nerja costs €65 per month. My freelance income fluctuates around €2,500 net per month.

The social aspect surprised me most. In the Netherlands I often felt invisible — people looked away or were overly helpful. In Spain people simply approach me as a person. My neighbor Eduardo helps me with groceries without fuss. The physiotherapist at my Centro de Salud is excellent and costs me nothing with the tarjeta sanitaria. My wheelchair maintenance is covered by the Seguridad Social.

Nerja is a small town of 22,000 inhabitants on the eastern Costa del Sol. My adapted apartment — ground floor, wide doors, walk-in shower — costs €850 per month. The climate works wonders for my spasticity: the warmth relaxes my muscles in a way no physiotherapy can match. I swim three times a week in the sea. My advice to people with a physical disability: don't let the disability hold you back. Spain offers more possibilities than you think.