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R2P Architects Whether you wish to build your dream home or an investment property we can help you. Our service also include refurbishment of existing properties, site appraisals, design and project management. We work from Marseille to Nice. Find out more... Celtic Garden Management A highly skilled team of gardeners, designers and landscape gardeners working from Monaco to St Tropez. Garden design, construction, lawns and
irrigation systems. Projects in Mougins, Valbonne, Antibes and Fayence. Free, no obligation quotations. Find out more... AXA Banking and Mortgages AXA Group a French banking company. We offer the cheapest banking service in France; Visa card, cheque book, savings account, personal loans and mortgages. Internet banking service. Earn interest on your current account. Call Tony 04 97 117 115. Find out more... | French Riviera Local Reference INFOrmation
Resources for the disabled, including wheelchair bound, physically disabled, and hearing or sight-impaired residents of the French Riviera and Monaco. Information on government aid, social security, 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. There are branches throughout the Riviera.
The CCAS Antibes branch publishes a guide (in French) detailing the accessibility of local Antibes offices and facilities, including among other things: post offices, police stations, utilities offices, churches, pharmacies, schools, car parks and sporting venues.
COTOREP is a governmental agency responsible for the recognition of disabled status.
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. Ask at an English-speaking pharmacy or 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 Departmental Disabled Persons Office (maison départementale des personnes handicapée/MDPH):
The Alpes-Maritimes MDPH office is located in Nice.
UtilitiesFrance Telecom has a selection of services called "Solutions Handicap".
National French Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced
Local Associations for the Disabled and Mobility ReducedThe Association des Paralysés de France provides information for paralysed people in France. It has special divisions for youth and for parents of children who are in wheelchairs and also provides an online forum for discussion.
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.
SportsHandisport Côte d'Azur provides information on the different sports clubs in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var.
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.
Fédération Française Handisport is a French organisation that provides information on national and international disabled sporting activities and events. The Comite Departemental HandiSport for the Alpes-Maritimes region website provides information on various disabled sporting associations in the area.
Wheelchair Accessible BeachesHandiplage: Several beaches of the Côte d'Azur and Monaco cater specifically for wheelchair bound people or those with reduced mobility. They are usually well signposted "Handiplage". There are beaches in St-Laurent du Var, Cagnes sur Mer, Antibes, Nice, Cannes, Cap d'Ail and Monaco.
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.
Nice International AirportThe following special facilities are available at Nice Airport for people with reduced mobility: reserved parking, lounge, wheelchairs, toilets with special access, access ramp, escalators, lift, specially equipped minibus and car. Saphir is Air France's service for the disabled. Operators, who are based in Nice, can provide information and reservations for the disabled.
Adapted Airport Shuttle ServiceVehicles adapted with ramps are available for transport to and from Nice International Airport from the following organisations.
TrainsSNCF, 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 locations, adapted transport service to the station can be provided. A door-to-door bag transport service is available for a fee, and can be booked when the ticket is purchased. The baggage will be delivered within 24 hours. For more information regarding SNCF's accessibility service for passengers with disabilities, see the SNCF website.
Boats and ferriesThe SNCM ferry-boat service between Nice and Corsica provides facilities for disabled passengers. The ferries have lifts and travelators to facilitate access for wheelchairs.
Car HireHoliday Cars and Hertz offer vehicles adapted for drivers who require hand controls. Holiday Cars offers these vehicles at most locations in France, though may charge a delivery fee. Hertz only offers these vehicles at some locations (including Nice International Airport). Car should be reserved well in advance. 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:
Driver's 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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