Notes for the Disabled

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Notes for the Disabled

• Information for the disabled and application forms for the Disabled Persons Card, are available from the centre communal d'action sociale, at your local Mairie, or COTOREP (commission technique d'orientation et de reclassement professionnel). The card provides for discounts and assistance in various areas.
• France Telecom has a selection of services for users. Ask for Télécom et Handicaps at your local office.
• Travel and tourism info for the disabled is available in a French guide, published by Association France-Handicaps.
• Most large towns have a pharmacy or medical supplier for purchase or rental of equipment for the disabled and elderly: wheelchairs (fauteuils-roulants, manuel/électrique), mini-lifts, walkers and general orthopedic equipment. Look in the Pages Jaunes (French yellow pages) under the heading "Handicapées: matériel et services pour".

• The CCAS (Centre Communal d'Actions Sociales) is an organisation which provides practical assistance and social interaction for elderly and disabled people. It also has specialised vehicles for people with reduced mobility. Enquire at your Mairie.

» See the AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Qualifying for French Disability Benefits

French Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced

• Handica.com: French website with general information, articles, recourses and legal information.

• HANDiCAPSPORT.com: French website, the "information crossroads" with information on sport and recreation for the physically disabled.

• Fédération  Française Handisport: French website detailing the national and international programme of sporting activities and events.

• Handicap.Gouv: French government website with full details of practical, legal and social relevance to the disabled resident of France.

• Handiweb: French website with information and contacts for the disabled person living in France.

• Comité National Francais de Liaison pour la Réadaptation des Handicapés. 
  Tel: 01 53 80 66 66

• Association des Paralysés de France: French website with news, information and advise for people living with paralysis in France.

Other associations

Calibre Audio Books: UK charity, Calibre, supplies audio books in English on cassette or disk to visually impaired and disabled people. The free service is available to members (registration can be made via the website). Free postal service is available to anywhere in Europe. 

• Calibre
  Tel: + 44 1296 432339
  Fax: + 44 1296 392599
  e-mail 
  Website

Trains

SNCF, the French railway system, caters to the hearing and sight disabled as well as physically disabled and wheelchair bound passengers by providing designated spaces and facilities in the carriages. In some areas, adapted transport service to the station can be provided. For more information regarding SNCF's accessibility service for passengers with disabilities, see the SNCF website.

• SNCF
  Website 
  Tel freephone: 08 00 15 47 53

Car Hire

Europcar and Hertz have adapted cars  - brakes and acelerator on steering wheel - available for hire to paraplegic drivers. Car must be reserved 7 days in advance.

• Europcar: 0803 352 352

• Hertz: 0825 342 343

Parking

Cars parked in disabled spaces must display the GIG - GIC disabled sticker or an EU blue badge in the window. The blue badge is a standardised European Community disabled person's parking permit which provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries - a blue badge from one country is valid in another. A person coming to France from another EU country may want to apply in their home country for this universal badge which allows the use of reserved parking. 

It is recommended to check locally at the town hall (hotel de ville) or with the municipal police (police municipal) for disabled parking regulations.

Things to keep in mind:

• Disabled spaces in car parks reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol
• Do not park in pedestrian zones or on roads where parking is not allowed
• Parking on roads is generally not free of charge for disabled drivers (except in Paris and a few other cities)
• In many areas, disabled drivers may park without time restrictions on roads where parking is free but has parking time limits
• Full details from the ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): Click here

Drivers with a blue badge from another European country may display this translation beside a badge written in another language (text from the UK Automobile Association):

• For further information on disabled parking in Europe see the Focus on Disability website: Click here