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.

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. Ask at an English-speaking pharmacy or look in the Pages Jaunes (French yellow pages) under the heading "Handicapées: matériel et services pour".

• France Telecom has a selection of services for users. Ask for Télécom et Handicaps at the local France Télécom office or Click here (in French)
• Travel and tourism information for the disabled is available from the Association Tourisme & Handicaps
  • Tel: 01 44 11 10 41
    e-mail
    Website
• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Qualifying for French Disability Benefits
• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Facilities for Children with Disabilities

Note: Most of the information for the disabled is in French.

National French Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced

• Handicap.fr: French website with general information, articles, resources and legal information on a number of sub-domaines:

  • Aides Techniques: searchable database (in French) to to find suppliers of technical aids such as adapted vehicles, clothing, home aids and much more

  • Emploi: job search website for disabled job seekers and employers offering work to disabled people in France 

• 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.

• Comité National Français de Liaison pour la Réadaptation des Handicapés (CNFLRH)
  At: rue de Tolbiac 236 bis, 75013 Paris 
  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.

• Autisme France: National association helping autistic people and their families

Local associations

• Association des Paralysés de France
  Central Office, Alpes-Maritimes
  At: 3 ave Antoine Véran, Nice
  Tel: 04 92 07 98 00 
  Fax: 04 92 07 07 24
  e-mail
  Website
  Central Office, Var
  At: 58 rue Fourcroy, 83130 La Garde
  Tel: 04 98 01 30 50
  Fax: 04 98 01 30 51

• Association Autisme France (English-language) 
  N° Azur: 0 810 179 179 from 09:00-17:00
  At: 1209 chem Campelières 06250 Mougins 
  Fax: 04 93 46 01 14 / 04 93 46 01 77

• Association Valentin Haûy: Provides services to the blind and visually impaired (in French)
  At: 4 avenue Henri Barbusse, Nice
  Tel: 04 93 52 54 54
  e-mail
  Website

• Handisport Côte d'Azur: Information on the different sports clubs in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var
  At: 1124, route de Carces, Lorgues
  Tel: 04 94 73 79 27
  Website

• French Riviera Tendances has a list of associations for the disabled on the French Riviera: Click here (in French)

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

Wheelchair Accessible Beaches

Handiplage: 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.

• For further information on these beaches: Click here 

CCAS (Centre Communal d'Actions Sociales)

An organisation which provides practical assistance and social interaction for elderly and disabled people. 
It also has specialised vehicles for people with reduced mobility. Branches throughout the Riviera.

• Nice
  At: 4 Place Pierre Gautier
  Tel: 04 93 13 51 00
  e-mail
  Website

• Cannes
  At: 22 rue Bornoil
  Tel: 04 93 06 31 70
  Fax: 04 93 06 32 36
  Website

• Menton
  At: 4 prom Mar Leclerc Hautecloque
  Tel: 04 92 41 76 00

• Antibes
  At: 76 Chem Colle
  Tel: 04 93 67 69 23

Ulysse

Ulysse Transport provides seven day a week transport service catering specifically to helping those with mobility problems. Easy wheelchair access and experienced staff. Also cater to transporting the elderly and infirm, the polyhandicapped, the blind and disabled children to and from school. 

• Ulysse Transport website

• Nice
  Monsieur Franck Vialle
  23 bd Carlone
  06200 Nice
  Tel: 04 93 96 09 99 
  Fax: 04 93 86 84 64
  e-mail

• Cannes/Antibes
  1588 route de Grasse
  06600 Antibes 
  Tel: 04 93 74 60 29 
  Mobile: 06 20 43 45 43

• Var
  Monsieur Gilles Lanssens
  23 ter avenue du Général de Gaulle
  83320 Carqueiranne
  Tel: 04 94 12 24 25 
  Fax: 04 94 58 84 16 
  Mobile: 06 13 22 96 76
  e-mail

Nice International Airport

The following special facilities are available for people with reduced mobility: Reserved parking, wheelchairs, toilets with special access, access ramp, escalators, lift, specially equipped minibus and car. Bus with elevator, elevator platforms, rest area.

• More information: Click here 

• Tel: 04 93 21 30 30

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

S.N.C.M. 

The ferry-boat service between Nice and Corsica make allowances for disabled passengers. The ferries have lifts and travelators to facilitate access for wheelchairs.

• Tel: 04 93 13 66 66
  Website

Car Hire

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

• Europcar: 0803 352 352

• Hertz: 0825 342 343

• Holiday Cars

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

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):

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

Adapted Airport Ferry Service

Vehicles adapted with ramps are available for transport to and from Nice International Airport from the following organisations.

• CCAS Nice 
  Tel: 04 97 11 40 53

• Groupement pour l'Insertion des Personnes Handicapées Physiques - GIHP 
  Tel: 04 93 19 51 61

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