About France...

France, a founding member of the European Union and famous for its cuisine, fashion, language, art and architecture, draws millions of students from around the world each year. Bordering Spain, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and just a short Chunnel ride from England,  France is the perfect launching point for a true European adventure. France has a long history dating back to Paleolithic times with an ancestry including the Gauls, the Franks and the Romans.

Paris, affectionately known as the “city of light”, is home to more than two million people, or Parisiens, with another eight million living in the surrounding suburbs. This city is home to world-famous monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Couer, The Louvre, and the Arc De Triomphe.  Many of the world’s most notable people have called France home, including Joan of Arc, Marie Curie, Louis Braille, Napoleon, Jean Paul Sartre, Picasso, Monet, and Louis XIV just to name a few.

Disability Information

Legislation

As early as the 18th century, France and its people were changing the way people with disabilities were treated by “unshackling” people with mental illness in institutions. In more modern times France has passed anti-discrimination laws that include people with disabilities guaranteeing the rights of people in all sectors of society including employment, education, and public access. Beginning in 1973, these laws make discrimination on the basis of gender, family structure, age, political view, ethnicity and disability a criminal offense. In 1991, a law requiring that housing, new buildings and places of public accommodation (i.e. schools, universities and government offices) be accessible to people with disabilities was also passed.

The European Union's Employment, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities Information

Accessibility in General

France is somewhat accessible for people with disabilities. While changes and upgrades for accessibility are common, so are stairs, narrow doors, and cobblestone. Larger cities tend to have more features for access than lesser known spots; however, many guide books and tourism offices will have resources regarding accessible lodging, tourist attractions, and restaurants. The bottom line when traveling in France is do your research, be prepared for surprises and bring lots of patience, an open mind, and sense of adventure.

Transportation & Accessibility

The French often do not own cars or drive due to the extraordinary cost of getting a license and fuel. Public transportation including taxis, buses, metros, trains and walking are extremely popular, although the accessibility of these systems can vary greatly from one city to the next.

Buses and Metro

While the law requires public services to be accessible, what that means will vary. It is not uncommon for accessibility to be limited to main routes. Check with the Transportation Authority in the city to which you are going for specific information.

Adapted Transportation Providers Across France

Infomobi- Information service for the transportation of disabled people in the Il de France
Tel: 0 810 64 64 64
E-mail : contact@infomobi.com 
This site lists transportation information and aid by category of disability and includes such things as accessible taxi services and maps of accessible buses and other services. This site is in French.

By Train

The rail system is clean, relatively inexpensive and a great way to see the country. The level of accessibility and the services offered to people with disabilities will vary from city to city. The best advice is to call in advance to request services such as wheelchair lifts, wheelchair seats, auditory direction and signs for blind people, or written and visual indicators for those who are hard of hearing or Deaf.

More information on the accessibility of the rail system in France go to Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais.  (This site is in French.)
Or contact: 
Accès Plus
Tel:  0890 640 650
Fax:  0825 825 957
Email: accesplus@sncf.fr

By Car

European Conference of Ministers of Transport
2 rue André Pascal
75775 Paris Cedex 16  FRANCE
Tel:  (33-1) 45-24-97-10  Fax:  (33-1) 45-24-97-42 or 45-24-13-22
E-mail: ecmt.contact@oecd.org

Parking placards for people with disabilities from foreign countries, including the United States and Canada, are honored in some European countries. To find out how to utilize this program, please see the website for European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT).

New! Rules for using your U.S. Driver's License in France

Groupement pour L’Insertion des Handicapés Physiques
10 rue Georges de Porto Riche
F-75014 Paris 
Tel:  (33-1) 43-95-66-36   Fax:  (33-1) 45-40-40-26

Groupement pour L’Insertion des Handicapés Physiques (GIHP, Group for the Inclusion of the Physically Handicapped) runs an accessible transport service in Paris. This must be booked in advance. Regional offshoots of this organization also provide transportation services.

G7 HORIZON
Taxis Parisiens
22-28 rue Henri Barbusse
92585 CLICHY CEDEX
Tel: 01.47.39.00.91
Email: service.clients@taxis-g7.com
Area served: Paris and Île-de-France.

On demand taxi service for people with limited mobility. Available 24/7, this service uses American- style adapted minivans. These vans can be hired for pick up and drop off to Orly or Roisy-Charles de Gaulle airports.

Education & Disability in France

Access to education for all has long been a French value. In 1755 Abbe Charles Michel de L’Epee of Paris founded the first free school for deaf people. He recognized Deaf people learned to communicate and observed that they had elaborate system of communication through gestures or sign. He took these signs and added to them creating a system for signing French and helping to create the more standardized systems of sign language that exist today.

In 1829 Louis Braille, a student at the Paris School for the Blind, succeed in modifying a military system of communicating by raised dots to the method of reading for blind people known now as Braille.

French children with disabilities have been included in regular classrooms since 1976, and in 2005 France passed a law extending the educational rights of people with disabilities.

For information International students in French Higher education go to:
http://www.ambafrance-us.org/atoz/higher_education.pdf

New! Visit CampusFrance. CampsuFrance is a service provided by the Embassy of France to Americans and U.S. residents who wish to pursue their higher studies in France.

Students intending to enroll in a French university, on their own or through a study abroad program, are required to pre-register through the CampusFrance website.

CampusFrance is above all an information and guidance center on studies in France, thanks to its dedicated staff and its website. CampusFrance also makes it possible for applications to be processed entirely online and digitally, cutting wait times considerably and offering real-time updates on an application's status.

Disability Organizations

Contacting a disability organization in France can be a great way to begin your planning for your adventure. Local organizations have the inside information regarding general accessibility, laws, and contacts in-country that can enhance your experience abroad. For a comprehensive list of disability organizations working in France, search MIUSA's Disability Organizations database.

Exchange Programs

There are more than 120 exchange programs in France listed in MIUSA's exchange database. Check them out and begin your French adventure today!  To find more opportunities in France, visit IIE Passport , Study Abroad.com or GoAbroad.com.

Attention! New Visa Requirements

Starting March 20th, 2007, American and foreign residents applying for a French Student Visa for a period of time longer than 3 months must be enrolled in CampusFrance before applying for the visa.

NO VISA WILL BE GRANTED BY FRENCH CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT ENROLLMENT IN CAMPUSFRANCE.

 Language Programs

Interested in learning French? French and English are the only languages spoken as a native language on five continents and the only languages taught in every country in the world. French is an official language in 33 countries spanning the globe, second only to English (spoken officially in 45). Listed below are just a few of the many French language programs available in France. For more information on language study in France, Google 'French language in France'.

There is no better way to learn a language than to live where it is spoken everyday!

Council on International Educational Exchange
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) develops and administers educational exchange programs throughout the world for high school and college students as well as for professionals. The organization also administers an international voluntary service program and a work-abroad program for college students. CIEE encourages people with disabilities to apply to their programs.

Eurocentres
Eurocentres offers intensive language study academic exchange programs to students age 16 through the graduate school level, as well as educators, businesspersons and private citizens. Eurocentres is dedicated to increasing international understanding and has an official policy to assist people with disabilities who attend Eurocentres courses to learn languages abroad. Almost all of their centers have wheelchair access. Eurocentres has accommodated many paraplegic, blind, dyslexic and partially Deaf students.

Eurolingua Institute
The Eurolingua Institute (EI) offers intensive language programs for participants ages 16 to 75. In addition, EI arranges cultural, work abroad and special interest exchanges.

Nacel Open Door
Nacel Open Door is dedicated to offering quality accessible youth exchange programs with a support network. Nacel Open Door promotes international understanding by offering a variety of homestay experiences including many inbound and outbound youth exchanges. Language and cultural study, touring or sport activity options are available with many programs. People with disabilities are encouraged to participate in Nacel Open Door's exchange programs. Nacel Open Door has had very successful experiences with disabled exchange students, including several who were sight impaired, hearing impaired or used wheelchairs.

Souffle
Souffle lists schools and universities throughout France offering French language programs. You will find intensive and semi-intensive courses, training for teachers of French, summer camps, one-to-one training, business French, preparation for exams and more.

Language Study Abroad -- France
A listing of French language learning programs from Transitions Abroad magazine.

LanguagesAbroad.com
Language courses in over 50 countries around the world including France

Fellowships, Scholarships, Internships and Funding

Find funding for your international exchange by visiting such websites as IIE Passport's Study Abroad Funding or the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange's financial aid information . NCDE lists U.S. Department of State programs and funding, disability organizations offering scholarships, and scholarship search engines. A sample of funding opportunities is listed below:

Ambassadorial Scholarship Program
Renee Stephenson
Educational Programs
Rotary International
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
Tel: (847) 866-3314
Fax: (847) 866-0934
Email: scholarship.inquiries@rotary.org

Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country and provide funds to cover round-trip transportation, language training expenses, and homestay living arrangements. Applications are considered for candidates interested in studying French. Undergraduate, graduate, doctorate, and post-doctorate students are eligible.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Assistant Manager
Institute of International Education
520 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 740
Houston, TX 77027
Tel:: 713-621-6300
Fax: 713-621-0876
Email: gilman@iie.org

Scholarship for undergraduate students who are receiving Pell Grant funding.

Links

Association Tourisme et Handicaps
280 Boulevard Saint-Germain – 75007 PARIS
Tel.: (33-1)  44 11 10 41
E-mail: tourisme.handicaps@club-internet.fr

Café Signes
33, avenue Jean Moulin, 75014 Paris
Where sign is the preferred form of communication

French Government Tourism Office
444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10022-6903
Tel: (410) 286-8310
E-mail: info@francetourism.com

The French Government Tourist Office can provide information to help plan your visit.

Lonely Planet

Travel website with information on countries.  The 'Thorntree' message board also has a Travelers with Disabilities section.

Society for Accessible Travel and Accessibility 
Information on countries, motels, and tour companies for those with disabilities

Why Travel to France?

See the changing French perception of people with disabilities.

Mobile en Ville
An access guide to Paris
(This site in French)

Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, MIUSA/NCDE cannot be held liable for inaccuracy, misinterpretation or complaints arising from these listings. Mention of an organization, company, service or resource should not be construed as an endorsement by MIUSA/NCDE. Please advise NCDE of any inaccuracies you may find.