Presentation by Jean-Paul Boré Vice-Président of the Régional Council Member of the Committee of the Région of Europe The regional Policy in favour of the people in situation of handicap in response to the demographic challenge Presentation by Jean-Paul Boré Vice-Président of the Régional Council Member of the Committee of the Région of Europe The regional Policy in favour of the people in situation of handicap in response to the demographic challenge European Conference : january 2007 « Région For Economic Change »

the context of Languedoc-Roussillon Situation : South of France/Arc Mediterranean Some key figures Population (1999) : inhabitants Number of departements : 5 Number of communes : Outline : + 32,2 % : an increasement of more than inhabitants by the year of 2030 To adapt the infrastructures By the year of 2010 : more than 4600 residences a year Approximately 10% of the population are in a situation of handicap. This can be estimated to even more, if one takes account of the ageing of the population in an area where the demographic trends progress the double of the national average.

Choise of the regional Council Reasons : The taking into account of the handicap concerns the right of the people within the meaning of the declaration of the human rights and the citizen in conformity with UNO. Action : The support of the access to everything for everyone, in order to make live the concept of LIVING TOGETHER íTo set up a policy centered on the equal rights and the chances for any person whatever her handicap and to answer the diversity of the needs for all the users. To engage : The area obtains a nonobligatory competence for the area in France. The means : Implementation of a transverse policy to all competences of the Regional Council in favour of the handicap.

Undertaken actions A structure of attention, information, dialogue and accompaniment in collaboration with all the actors concerned : PSH, state, institutions, associations, regional services, departmental and local territorial authorities. Evaluation of the needs. To stimulate the diffusion and the sharing of information. To impel the regional action on defined priorities with the actors of the regional observatory. Accessibility must become a global solution in order to answer the need of every one. Since 2005, installation of a Regional Observatory of the Handicap. The role and the Missions

The organization Regional meetings every year í Creation of the regional Handicap Charter The support í Creation of an outline document adaptable to the partners concerned in the respect of the competences of each one. The targets 1 - Departmental and communal territorial communities. 2 - Companies and publicly-owned establishments and deprived, organizations of employers, associations and institutions. Comment : A specific convention mentions the level of engagement of each institutional and/or associative partner in favour of the handicap. A rule : To take the time of the dialogue

Five axes of the Charter « Languedoc-Roussillon Région-Handicap » Accessibility of the public buildings and transport. Access to sport and leisure activites, tourism, culturel life. Employment, vocational training. Education, teaching. Housing.

Accessibility of the public buildings and transport The Languedoc – Roussillon Area is committed to turn more accessible within the territory and the regional buildings, and to contribute to make the public places more accessible. Respect of the regulation as regards accessibility in the public places: accessibility of the regional Council and the Houses of the Region, the new or rehabilitated high schools… Incitement to the development of the accessibility and the adaptation in full safety of the cultural and sporting equipment of the region. The possibility of living well together and having equal opportunities depend on a territory accessible to everyone, with adapted infrastructures to facilitate displacements. Participation in the planning of stations and platforms (adapted parkings, zones of advance, access to the counters and the services, raising of the platfom…). Planning and equipment of Regional Express Trains, in particular of the new travelling material. Considerations of the development of a specialized collective transport of people in situations of handicap who cannot use the public transport system.. Sensitizing, loud-sounding traffic lights, adapted parking places on the public highway, maps for blind people…).

Acces to sports and leisure activities, to tourism and cultural life To support the actions and activities allowing the integration of the people in situations of handicap and contributing to their individual and collective blooming. Support of the development of sport activities and the participation of people in situation of handicap in cultural activities and leisures. Assistance with the initiatives of handicap sport and adapted sport. Promotion of the standards of accessibility for reception of these people in museums, theatres, cinemas, concert halls, libraries, sport halls, swimming pools and all places concerned… Adjustment and equipment of the tourist sites, accessibility of the vacation resorts, beaches within the framework of the tourist diagram of installation… Accompany in the development of the tourism and handicap label for the professionals of tourism.

Employment, vocational training Because the vocational training and the training constitute major competences of the regions and represent an important lever for employment. To arrange, adapt, support the Center of training of the apprentices. To support the development of structures of adapted work and formation. To develop specific and qualifying formations for the people in situation of handicap in lodging or in residence. í To support the employment of the people in situation of handicap via the network of the local mission of information (MLI), of permanences of reception, information and orientation (PAIO) and ANPE, the departmental houses of handicap. To create a regional label for the companies of Languedoc-Roussillon which accept to support the employment of people in situation of handicap and, willing to adapt their job and thereby allowing a wider offer of employment.

Education, teaching Because the high schools constitute a priority of action and an important lever to develop competences. To carry out an inventory of fixtures of the school establishments regarding accessibility. To optimize the accessibility of the school establishment, new or rehabilitated. To support the sport activities of the pupils in situations of handicap. Housing To support the development of the social housing is one of the priorities of the Region Languedoc-Roussillon. This territory with very strong demographic growth is confronted with a shortage of social housing. The most concerned are the families with the modest income, but also the people in situation of handicap. To develop a policy of adapted social housing. To count the accessible residences and to encourage their attribution with people in situation of handicap. To encourage creation, on the regional territory, of lodgings which are adapted to the various forms of handicaps.