Since the creation of the Law of February 11th 2005, it is not unreasonable to say that our society has initiated a very important change in our approach towards the disabled. This text as well as the hundreds of applied decrees have altered, are altering and will continue to alter the plethora of support provided to citizens with disabilities.

This section is not meant to be all-encompassing and in depth. The following information is provided simply to inform you of your rights concerning education, employment and accessibility, especially since the law of February 11th 2005.
 

For the first time in France, the Law defines the term “disability”:

« Constitue un handicap, au sens de la présente loi, toute limitation d'activité ou restriction de participation à la vie en société subie dans son environnement par une personne en raison d'une altération substantielle, durable ou définitive d'une ou plusieurs fonctions physiques, sensorielles, mentales, cognitives ou psychiques, d'un polyhandicap ou d'un trouble de santé invalidant. ».

This definition has lead to a new way of looking at disabilities. Indeed, a person is disabled because of an illness or an accident, but the difficulties they encounter are not solely due to their bodily dysfunctions.

It is necessary to take their environment into account. For example, it is clear that a person in a wheelchair experiences difficulties due to their paralysis, but also because there are establishments which are not easily accessible.

This is why it is better to refer to a person as “someone with a disability” as opposed to a handicapped person.
 

To benefit from a certain amount of compensation, it is necessary that you identify your disability to the MDPH.

In other words, this means that access “everywhere for everyone” is the motto induced by the Law of 2005. All public institutions, transportation, road construction, schools, businesses, jobs, administration, sports, culture, pass-times, etc, all different aspects of life are concerned.
This principal of non-discrimination is truly a revolution and has proven to be very useful in our society as disabled persons are still far too often excluded in schools, jobs, activities, etc. The Law of 2005 executes all measures taken into account in the column “discrimination”.