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Poitou-Charentes Local Reference INFOrmation
Resources - mostly in French - for disabled: wheelchair bound, physically disabled, hearing or sight-impaired members of the community. Information on government aid and social security organisations, non-profit organisations and parking facilities.
Note: Most of this information for the disabled takes you to services in French only. Information for the disabled regarding living in the region is available from the local Centre communal d'action sociale/CCAS, at the local Mairie, or Commission technique d'orientation et de reclassement professionnel/COTOREP. The CCAS is an organisation that provides practical assistance and social interaction for elderly and disabled people. It also has specialised vehicles for people with reduced mobility. COTOREP is a governmental agency responsible for the recognition of disabled status. Enquire at the Mairie for the nearest offices.
For visitors to the region, local tourism offices may have information on accessible facilities for the disabled.
General Information and Helpful LinksMost 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". A Handicapped Person's Priority Card (Carte de Priorité Pour Personne Handicapée) is available to those deemed by the French government to be at least 80 percent disabled. The card is used to obtain priority queuing and seating on public transport and in waiting rooms, schools and public events. To obtain a Handicapped Person's Priority Card, the following must be presented at the Maison départementale des personnes handicapée (Departmental Disabled Persons Office /MDPH):
There are several MDPH offices in Poitou-Charentes.
UtilitiesFrance Telecom has a selection of services called "Solutions Handicap".
National French Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced
Leisure Time and EntertainmentLibrariesCalibre Audio Books is a UK charity that 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. The English Language Library for the Blind in Paris provides books on tape in English to English-speakers all over the world by post. The selection of available audio books is quite large.
SportsFédération Française Handisport is a French organisation that provides information on national and international disabled sporting activities and events. The Ecole de Ski Française offers skiing lessons for the disabled in over 50 of its skiing schools. Individual and group classes are available for the deaf, blind and those with reduced mobility.
TourismTravel and tourism information for the disabled is available from the Association Tourisme & Handicaps Disabled Transportation and TravelUlysseUlysse Transport provides transport service catering specifically to helping those with mobility problems. It also caters to transporting the elderly and infirm, the polyhandicapped, the blind, and disabled children to and from school. English-language service is not guaranteed.
ParkingCars 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:
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):
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