The President of the Republic announced on Wednesday a series of measures to improve the daily lives of “12 million French people” affected by disability.
“We will tackle point by point to each of the barriers that still prevent people with disabilities on a daily basis exercise their rights and participate fully in the life of society.” On the occasion of the sixth National Disability Conference, Emmanuel Macron announced, on Wednesday April 26, a series of measures for “12 million French people” affected by disability. An appointment, however, boycotted by the Collectif Handicaps, which denounces “a lack” of ambition. Here is what to remember from the statements of the Head of State.
The creation of a “referral teacher” position in “each establishment” of the first degree
On the education side, “nWe now have 430,000 students with disabilities who are at school“recalled Emmanuel Macron, who salutes “a small revolution”. “But we still have a lot to do”, he admitted. The Head of State announced that “each primary school” would have “of a referent teacher” pour “support” students with disabilities. Moreover, he promises “an intensification of the training of all stakeholders” in schools on these issues.
For students, Emmanuel Macron wishes that “pedagogical and physical accessibility in higher education” either “finalized during this quinquennium”. “We have pilot universities which must become exemplary demonstrators of the possibility of completely accessible education based on specifications drawn up by disability associations”, described the head of state.
Accompanying measures on the job market
In the field of work, “our objective is also that the ordinary professional environment of common law adapts to people with disabilities” whatever it is, recalled Emmanuel Macron. For that, “professionals from Pôle Emploi” will help people with disabilities who request them “to develop their own professional project”. “Employers must achieve the objective of 6% employment of disabled people, including in the field of apprenticeship. To facilitate this, we will simplify recognition as a disabled worker”, he added.
The Head of State also felt that he “was not eligible” that people working in an Establishment and service of help through work (Esat) don’t be “paid only 60% of the minimum wage, even though they work full time.” “We must work to ensure that these people are fully compensated for their work like everyone else”, he added. In addition, Emmanuel Macron promised that “the remuneration of adult apprentices will also be increased for people with disabilities”.
A budget of 1.5 billion euros for accessibility to public places
The State will devote an envelope of 1.5 billion euros to improving accessibility to public places for people with disabilities. “It’s a heavy budget line”he noted, adding that this commitment would be “decline before summer” and would be subject to “programming”.
“Transport will not be forgotten, both with the acquisition of adapted electric vehicles and the accessibility of taxis, stations, the train”, said Emmanuel Macron. In an interview given to Figaro (paid item)the Minister Delegate in charge of People with Disabilities, Geneviève Darrieussecq, mentioned in particular a envelope “400 million euros” to make it possible to make the “158 national priority stations” accessible for all disabilities by 2027.
Wheelchairs will be fully reimbursed from 2024
On this question of accessibility, the President of the Republic announced that “lwheelchairs, which take so long to obtain and whose prices are so exorbitant for some scholarships”, would be fully refunded “from 2024”. The rest to be paid will be deleted, specifies the press kit of the government. “It is an important measure, a measure of social justice”, justified Emmanuel Macron. Today, social security reimburses a maximum of 5,200 euros for the purchase of an electric wheelchair, an amount that mutual insurance companies and insurance companies do not necessarily fully cover.
The deconjugalization of the AAH will come into force in October
Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that the deconjugalization ofallowance for disabled adults (AAH) would come into force in the fall. “From October 1, 120,000 people with disabilities living as a couple will see their AAH increase by 350 euros per month on average”.
