The French government is striving to improve accessibility across the board, increase benefits, increase access to work and education, and make information more readily available so that disabled people can make lifestyle choices for themselves.
Along with self-determination measures, legislation is also being enacted to encourage mainstream employers to hire disabled people. This is in response to widespread criticism. France has a patchy record on disability, especially in the employment market. Overall employment levels for disabled people hover at about 4 per cent of the workforce, and 37 per cent of companies don’t employ any disabled people at all. This is in spite of laws requiring 6 per cent of jobs to be reserved for people with disabilities. Another development is a sliding scale of access to benefits so that disabled people can work part-time without being penalised by losing all their benefits.
Following EU legislation, the government is also to pass laws forcing employers to make ‘reasonable accommodation’ for disabled employees, in particular flexible hours.
The unions are also going to be forced to negotiate measures to promote disabled people’s access to work, and companies who fail to meet their quota of disabled employees (and who cannot show that they have made serious efforts to recruit disabled staff) are to be fined. The current list of jobs for which employers can specify physical criteria is to be scrapped, and disabled access to workplaces is to be made mandatory.
In each department maisons des personnes handicapées (disability centres) are being created where people can get information about all the social welfare agencies, medical services, disabled people’s associations, and other support in one place. In a further attempt to simplify life, the Commission Technique d’Orientation et de Reclassement Professionnel (COTOREP) and the Commissions Départementales de l’Education Spécialisée (CDESs) will be merged to form the Commission des Droits et de l’Autonomie des Personnes Handicapées.
Naturally it remains to be seen what this actually means on the ground, but the intentions are certainly moving in the right direction.
Education
Furthermore, the government wants to ensure that all disabled people receive a full education, which in the past has not always been the case; with certain categories of severely disabled children not being enrolled in school at all. In theory, parents can choose whether to enrol their disabled child in a mainstream or special school, and certain kinds of disability can qualify children to have a special needs assistant assigned to them. In practice however, schools tend to claim that they don’t have the space/funding/facilities/ in order to re-orientate disabled pupils towards special education. With persistence however, these barriers can be overcome, and as every situation is different, and provision varies across the country, the local schools, the assistante sociale, the CAF and the mairie are the best places to start hunting.
Where France shines is in medical provision, which is comprehensive and excellent providing a whole range of care from the latest surgical procedures through to physiotherapy and alternative treatments such as acupuncture, the costs of which are reimbursed through the medical insurance system.
For those who cannot work, French disability benefit of around €600 (£401) a month is payable. This is called the Allocation Aux Adultes Handicapés (AAH), and is available to all EU and French citizens living full-time in France. Applications can be made through the Caisse des Allocations Familiales (CAF). Mental illness is now also accepted as a disability.
To qualify for this benefit, claimants are assessed by the Commission Technique d’Orientation et de Reclassement Professionnel (COTOREP). Apart from the percentage of incapacity, this organisation also assesses for how long the benefit should be paid. They also decide whether or not a carer should receive benefits and/or free pension contributions. Further, they can say whether someone is eligible for a place in a specialised residential centre – the Maison d’Accueil Spécialisée (MAS) – or a sheltered working environment, Centre d’Aide par le Travail (CAT).
CATs are sheltered residential centres where people are employed on site (usually under the umbrella of a non-profit association) so that they earn their own living and pay their own rent whilst being helped where possible towards total autonomy. Bakeries and laundries are popular options of the work available.
COTOREP also can give claimants a disabled person’s card which makes the holder eligible for various discounts and exemptions across the board of travel, leisure, social activities, taxation, etc.
Social activities
The Centre Communal d’Actions Sociales (CCAS) organises social events, outings, shopping trips and other events for disabled as well as elderly people, and details of the local branch can be obtained from the local mairie.
Sports for disabled people are mushrooming in France and there are opportunities to learn basketball, paragliding, skiing, mountain biking, riding, judo and many other sporting activities. Provision is better in cities than in rural areas.
For children, there are many holiday camps and recreational facilities available and details are available from the CAF or the local mairie. People with disabilities get substantial discounts via a series of coupons from the CAF, and of course, benefit from reduced entry and/or fast passes at recreational facilities such as theme parks, water games and swimming pools, zoos, etc.
With special thanks to Coral Luke for supplementary information
FACT FILE
www.education.gouv.fr/handiscol – information on education for disabled children
www.handica.com – general information (in French)
www.handisport.org – sport and recreation (in French)
www.handicap.gouv.fr – practical and legal advice (in French)
www.handiweb.fr – information and contacts (in French)
Comité National Francais de Liaison pour la Réadaptation des Handicapés – Tel: 00 33 (0)1 53 80 66 66
English Language Library for the Blind (in Paris). Tel: 00 33 (0)1 42 93 47 57
Europcar Tel: 00 33 (0)8 03 35 23 52
Hertz: tel: 00 33 (0)8 25 34 23 43
Freephone SNCF 00 33 (0)8 00 15 47 53
Go to www.caf.fr for information about the Caisse des Allocations Familiales (in French).
TIPS
Leaving the UK
If you are planning to leave the UK permanently you should contact the International Pensions Centre 0191 218 7777 or email tvpinternationalqueries@pensions.gsi.gov.uk
for information about which benefits you will no longer receive.
Getting around in France
This can be tricky as not all transport is wheelchair accessible yet. The SNCF (French railways) does however provide designated spaces and facilities so make it clear that you will require these facilities when booking tickets, so that your reservations are in the appropriate carriages.
Europcar and Hertz have specially adapted cars for hire, with the brakes and accelerator on the steering wheel. These have to be reserved at least seven days in advance.
Disclaimer
This dossier article is intended as a general guide only. For specific information relative to your own situation, please use the contact details in the factfile. The information given here was correct at the time of publication. However, if you notice a gremlin causing typos or any other inaccuracies, do please let us know.
Updates
This article was last updated 15 September 2007