Handover of the report on disability in overseas France

On July 17, Micheline Jacques, Senator for Saint-Barthélemy, presented Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq, Minister Delegate for the Disabled, with the Senate report on disability in overseas France. The report was co-authored by Audrey Bélim, Senator for La Réunion, Annick Petrus, Senator for Saint-Martin, and Akli Mellouli, Senator for Val-de-Marne. The document highlights the delays in the care and support of people with disabilities. Micheline Jacques, Chairwoman of the French Senate's Overseas Departments and Territories Committee, points out that the report, entitled "Politique du handicap outre-mer, faux départ et course de fond" (Overseas disability policy: a false start and a long way to go), contains sixteen recommendations designed toes to speed up the catch-up process, gain a better understanding of disability situations, achieve the objectives of the 2005 law, adapt systems to local realities and make room for territorial innovations.
The report places particular emphasis on the notion of accessibility. "Public transport services are inadequate or non-existent, and infrastructures are poorly adapted. There is a massive shortfall in medical and social services, with major territorial disparities, and even a virtual absence in some areas. While inclusive schools are making progress, thanks to the efforts of local education authorities, there are still obstacles in the way, notably the lack of IMEs and delays in notification. Similarly, the development of handisport and adapted sport remains hampered by a lack of resources, or simply of adapted and accessible structures. Vocational integration is similarly hampered, despite some progress on Reunion Island. "It also states: "Despite proven needs, as expressed by the higher percentage of people with disabilities in the DROMs than in mainland France, and the prevalence of certain disorders linked to environmental and health factors specific to the DROMs.s to environmental and health factors specific to the overseas territories (mercury pollution linked to gold-panning activities, fetal alcohol syndrome...), the responses remain dramatically inadequate. "