Disability Act France

Disability Act France

Disability Act

• The Disability Act in France is called as the 2005 Disability Act.
• The disability law in France came into force on 11 February 2005.
• The law is based on an equal opportunity, participation and citizenship for people with disabilities.
• The 2005 Disability Act is the main legislation regarding disability-based discrimination in France.
• No difference should be made between disabled and able people in terms of recruitment or access to company training.
• This Act also supports main legislation regarding measures to support disabled workers in France.
• Workers with disabilities are entitled to adjustments and arrangements in their working hours and shifts.
• This Act allows disabled workers to retire early from the age of 55 on the basis of 30 working years with a disabled worker status.

Disability Definition

The Disability Law 2005 defines disability as Any limitations in participating in society because of a substantial, permanent condition affecting a person’s physical, sensory or mental functioning, which includes cognitive and psychiatric disorders and disabling chronic illnesses.

Purpose of Disability Act

• The law was framed as the introduction in France of the international ‘social model of disability’, in order to combat discrimination.
• The law states that individuals with disabilities are entitled to accommodation to secure equal access to all programs and services.
• The purpose of this law is to guarantee access to fundamental rights for persons with disabilities belonging to all citizens as well as the ability to fully exercise the rights of citizenship.

MEASURES TO SUPPORT EMPLOYERS

• The 2005 Disability Act is the main legislation regarding measures to support employers in France.
• Employers are supported when directly hiring disabled people and when hiring subcontractors from the sheltered sector.
• A bonus of 1600 Euros is granted to employers who directly or indirectly hire a disabled person for over 12 consecutive months.

MEASURES TO SUPPORT WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES

• Workers with disabilities are entitled to adjustments and arrangements in their working hours and shifts
• They also receive priority access to further training and continuing education as part of their current position.
• In case of redundancy, the notice period concerning a disabled worker is double that which is otherwise used in the company.
• At last, disabled workers are entitled to early retirement from the age of 55 on the basis of 30 working years with a disabled worker status.

Autism Policy/Strategy/Bill

• Learners with autism spectrum disorders can attend externalized units specifically designed for them.
• Since 2018, the National Strategy for Autism within Neurodevelopmental Disorders has fostered the implementation of externalized autism teaching units in nursery and primary schools.
• So far, 160 units have been created and 200 more will be created before 2022.
• The units were created so that children with autism could benefit from early schooling as well as get medical-social support within mainstream educational settings.

References:

Baudot, Pierre-Yves. "Layering rights: the case of disability policies in France (2006-2016)." Social policy and society 17.1 (2018): 117-131

Baudot, P. Y. (2018). Layering rights: the case of disability policies in France (2006-2016). Social policy and society, 17(1), 117-131.