A night at the Cagnes-sur-Mer racecourse, a visit to the Astrorama in Col d’Eze, or even a simple stroll, the members of the French Association for Paralysis (APF) in Nice will not be bored this summer. What they know for sure is that nothing will stand in their way. Not inaccessible public transportation, nor entries to toilets that are too narrow. The APF plans everything in advance, down to a minibus designed for their comfort. Strengthened by the work of its approximately 50 volunteers, donations, and subsidies provided by municipalities, the APF is gradually approaching its major goal: to make all public establishments accessible to everyone. Patrick Touchot, a volunteer in the entertainment service states loudly and clearly: “We are full citizens. As such, we have the right, like everyone else, to move around these places.”
A “Handiplage” Label
However, with the ever-present sun and the heat typical of the season, the most frequented place remains the seaside. In the department, there are five beaches equipped to accommodate paralyzed individuals with the “Handiplage” label: Antibes, Saint Laurent du Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Cannes, and Cap d’Ail. However, regarding Nice, despite two beaches carrying the “Handiplage” name, Michelle Touchot, Regional President of Handiplage, holds her ground: “These do not meet all the criteria required to obtain the label, even though one of them merits being the first to have been organized for the paralyzed.”
No stairs but a 5-degree slope, availability of personnel (lifeguards, etc.) throughout the day, installation of facilities to enter the water… The conditions to meet are numerous, but the initiative remains simple: any city that wants to start work on a Handiplage must report it to the Handiplage administration in Bayonne. Recently, some city halls have expressed this desire, according to the volunteer. Patrick and Michelle Touchot view this as a significant advancement: “There’s a real awareness about the daily lives of the paralyzed. It’s wonderful. It would be great joy if one day each community set up a beach designed to properly welcome us.”
