Created by the City of Cannes in 2004 and managed by the Social Action Center, Handiplage received 4 buoys from the Handiplage label in 2006 and the Tourism and Handicap Label in 2009 for the quality of the equipment and services offered, attesting to the exemplary welcome provided to users, regardless of their disability (motor, mental, visual, or auditory).
We should also note the achievement of the first “handicap reflex” award by the Association des Paralysรฉs de France for the entire municipal action in favor of disabled people in 2010. In 2011, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Hong Kong delegation to the site.
๏ Open from June 1 to September 30: from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in June and September, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM in July and August; 29 parking spaces available from June to September on the site and at the Verdun Parking.
๏ Two teams of three “handiplagists,” including two lifeguards, were reinforced by a 7th team member in July and August, ensuring the supervision, safety, swimming assistance, and support for users. All benefited from specific training adapted to welcoming disabled people.
The 2011 season
๏ As in every year, new investments in beautification, security, and promoting autonomous swimming were made for the 2011 season, including:
๏ง A new teak access ramp, new chairs, new umbrellas, two marquees;
๏ง 5 floating hammocks and 5 additional floating mattresses;
๏ง New life jackets (including small-sized jackets for better accommodation of paraplegic children);
๏ง The tripling of sanitary facilities and dressing areas, a blower and a high-pressure cleaner, a sieve to optimize the cleaning of the site.
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๏ The attendance rate of Handiplage has continued to increase over the summer seasons:
๏ง 2009 was already a record year with a 77% increase in attendance and the reception of 6,597 disabled people on site (with 98% satisfaction according to the satisfaction survey conducted).
๏ง The evolution of site attendance in 2011 attests to the growing success of the Cannes Handiplage; indeed, more than 7,000 disabled people (7,205 people in 2011) were able to benefit from the siteโs facilities this year, with 8,363 swims conducted and over 5,400 accompanying persons. Finally, note that over 6,200 users received personal assistance and more than 1,400 people received swimming assistance from our team of “handiplagists” and professional lifeguards.
๏ง It should also be noted that no fewer than thirty specialized establishments frequented the site very regularly this year.
The City of Cannes’ actions on accessibility also include:
๏ More than 420 GIC/GIG spaces created since 2001, with parking capacity doubling in 10 years in the municipal area.
๏ An average of 250 cases processed annually by the Accessibility Commission
๏ The accessibility of roads (accessibility work representing an average of 30% of the renovation and restructuring operation costs). As an example, among the roads worked on including accessibility improvements in the last three years, notable ones are (non-exhaustive list): Renรฉ Dunan Street, Gallieni, Shakespeare, Reyer Avenues (sidewalk widening and implementation of tactile paving), Cedars, Reine Astrid, Costebelle, Mourrรฉ Rouge, Fragonard, du Roi Albert, Bรฉnรฉfiat; Pastour, Aubanel Ricord Laty, Forville, Felix Faure, Bivouac Napolรฉon, Tuby east section, Gazagnaire, Hรฉlรจne Vagliano, August 24 Street, Lalanne, Tony Allard, Marรฉchal Juin, des Serbes, Haddad Simon, Carnot, Rรฉpublique, and de la Ferrage boulevards, the Palais des Festivals and Congresses’ esplanade, the perimeter around Gambetta and Forville markets, Mistral square, Gabres roundabout on the Vautrin sideโฆ
Among the operations started for 2011 or planned for future years in terms of road accessibility, we can cite Victor Hugo Boulevard, Chaude, Metz, Lafontaine, Moliรจre, Marceau, Vรฉnizรฉlos, Notre Dame Saint Honorรฉ Streets, Quai Saint Pierreโฆ
๏ The accessibility of public buildings and sanitary facilities as well as the surroundings of school establishments
๏ The co-financing of adapted structures such as the Clementines’ home
๏ The signing of the Diversity Charter in 2008, attesting to the concrete actions implemented by the city in favor of accessibility in recruitment, awareness, and training of its staff.
๏ The organization of numerous entertaining, cultural, and sports events such as “Vive la Diffรฉrence,” “Au Fil de lโAutre,” “Entre deux marches” โฆ
