Integration of the Handicapped

In his televised speech of July 14 th, 2002, former President of the Republic Jacques Chirac presented the integration of the handicapped as one of the three national themes of his five year term. This ambition was part of a wish to “further reinforce the national cohesion of justice, and thus attention to the more vulnerable.”

 

The gaps in former legislative frameworks : a national solidarity considered too weak for the handicapped.

 

In 2005, there was a census made that counted more than 5 million handicapped people in France, approximately 10% of the population.

 

In 1975, the first major law on handicaps was adopted. Law 75-534 of June 30 th, 1975, was oriented in favour of handicapped people and fixed the legal framework from which public powers acted upon: prevention and detection of handicaps, educational obligation, access to institutions open to the public, maintenance of an ordinary work and life structure.

 

Other laws were then adopted:

 

- July 10 th, 1987 law in favour of employing handicapped workers: companies that employ more than 20 people are required to have 6% of disabled people in their total workforce

- Law of orientation on education published July 12, 1989: promoting the integration of handicapped students

- July 13 th, 1990 law relative to the protection of people against discrimination due to their state of health or their handicap

 

Furthermore, the gaps in the inclusion of people suffering from handicaps called for a reform to the system that was in place. On the day before the adoption of the February 11 th, 2005 law, the homeless rate for the handicapped had risen to 17%.

 

February 11 th, 2005 law: promote a change in society’s behaviour for a successful integration of the handicapped

 

The new law affirms the fundamental rights in terms of employment, education, accessibility, and access to social security benefits.

 

- Employment: non-discrimination at work

- Education: integration in an ordinary environment

- Accessibility: an environment for all

- Right to compensation: financing of the life project

 

In other respects, the creation of disability centres in each department will facilitate the processes that people suffering from a handicap must go through in order to take advantage of the benefits and rights.

 

Veritable advances in the progression of integrating the handicapped

 

The increase of credits applied to the medical expenses of the handicapped allows for the creation, during the 2003/2007 period, of:

 

- 8,400 new places in the specialized establishments for children

- 18,000 places for adults

- 14,000 places in the “centre d’aide par le travail (CAT)” (Help centres for work)

 

To improve the reception of the handicapped:

 

- 300 sports instructor jobs were created to encourage the practice of sports and leisure activities

- jobs created for assistants in university life

- The number of students educated has greatly increased:

 

- more than 40% in the first degree

- more than 70% in the second degree

 

The mobilization of the government and the contribution of the Conseil National Consultatif des Personnes Handicapées (National Council for the Disabled) has allowed for the quick application of the main elements that the February 11 th, 2005 law consist of, such as the new disability compensation system that multiplies the aid credits by two.