Insight into the current situation France About SEDY France The defi nition of disability used by the French law is: “a restriction of a person’s The SEDY project aims to contribute to participation in social life and activities due to a substantial, lasting or permanent the increase of physical activity in change in one or more physical, sensory, mental, cognitive or psychological children with disabilities. This is achieved functions, a poly-handicap or a valid health problem”. In 2003, the Ministry of by matching the demand and the supply. Sports founded the Pôle Ressources National Sport et Handicaps (PRNSH). It is We are convinced that the participation responsible tackling the topic of “Sport and Disabilities” at national level. The main of children in sport activities contributes aim is to guide the stakeholders involved in the development and promotion of to the social, emotional and physical sports and physical activities for people with disabilities. The “Equal opportunities development of children. The project runs and rights for people with disabilities” law, passed in 2005, places the PRNSH at from 2015 until 2017. In this period we the center of the sport and disability public framework. The ‘Sport and Disability’ expect to obtain more knowledge of the mission of the ministry ensures awareness of and implementation of this topic. level of fi t, between demand and supply in sport and the best ways to support Estimates suggest there are 12 millions disabled people in France. 5.4% of the disabled children. The fi nal goal is to youth between the age of 10 and 24 years living in regular households have increase sport participation of children at least one disability (fi g. 1) (INSEE, 2007). with disabilities, and thereby to increase the social inclusion of this group. The out- comes of the research and the SEDY tool including at least sensoric disabilities 0.7% will, in the years following the project, be used for further development and including at least mobility impairment 1.1% knowledge acquisition. including at least cognitive impairment 4.3% The research is conducted in seven total of youth with at least 1 disability 5.4% countries (Lithuania, Finland, United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Italy, the 0123456 Netherlands). The partners involved in Fig. 1 Percentage of disabled youth between age 10-24 the project are a mix of organisations Source INSEE, 2007 & 2008 and complement each other in both know- ledge and fi eld experience consisting of four universities, two sport federations, one pan-European organisation and two non-profi t organisations. This factsheet is part of the inventory phase. Purpose of this phase is to collect data on the current and desired situation concerning opportunities for disabled youth to do sport activities (supply) and what are their needs (demand). This factsheet provides statistical data as well as how sport for youth with disabilities is organised. More information can be obtained with: Professor Marije Baart de la Faille-Deutekom ([email protected]) Project leader SEDY: Martin Breedijk ([email protected]) France Contact: Maxime Leblanc - Data collection: Editors: [email protected] Maxime Leblanc (2015) Maxime Leblanc (2016) Available statistics sport participation Sport participation Sport participation in sport clubs Kind of sport Approximately 3 million of these 9 million There are no specifi c fi gures about Activities that are not competitive are (32.8%) participate in sports (HID Survey, membership of young disabled people getting more attractive - in particular 1998). 179,000 are members of a federation, in sport clubs but we do know that the outdoor activities - as well as artistic and 945,000 practice sports informally French mainstream sports federations physical activities (Garel, 2015). According (Ministère des Sports, 2011). 19,325 young numbered 112,000 disabled members in to statistics of the FFH (licenses “Com- disabled people in 2012 have been given 2011. (Ministère des Sports, 2011). 47% of petitions Youth” 2014-2015), the most a membership card (aged 0-24) of the clubs welcome disabled people (PRNSHA, popular disciplines are swimming, horse French Handisport Federation (FFH) and the 2015). A signifi cant increase since the riding, football and athletics, basketball, French Federation of Sport for people with 30% of 2005. This is partially due to the boccia, fencing, table tennis, archery, learning diffi culties (FFSA). This number creation of the Handiguide. The number sport shooting, the 5 Foot-and Torball had increased to 22,411 in 2014 (fi g. 2). of mainstream clubs receiving persons goalball (team sport for visually impaired According to a FDJ Survey, 38% of the with disabilities increases. Conventions people). In addition, the recreational offer disabled people claim that they are very with school sports federations promote increases. Outdoor sports and leisure active in sports. The young disabled seem mixed physical activities for youth with activities are gaining importance, as to be the most active in sports. Of the 14% and without disabilities (Garel, 2005). evidenced by the success of ‘Para Sport who claim that they are against all forms holidays’ implemented by the FFH and of sporting activity is only 22% below 34 UCPA (FFH-a, 2015). years (FDJ Survey, 2015). clubs open for disabled 47% 20-24 multiple disabilities 9% 15-19 auditory disability 8% 10-14 visual disability 6% 5-9 mental disability 49% 0-4 physical disability 28% 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 01020304050 2014 FFSA 2012 FFSA Fig. 3 Percentage of clubs open for disabled people sorted 2014 FFH 2014 FFH by type of disability Source PRNSH, 2014 Fig. 2 Membership cards young disabled people Source French Ministry of Sport, 2015 System of organisation National level The Ministry attempts to make all the In terms of the sport governing bodies, sport infrastructures accessible to the two federations share the responsibility: disabled people. In 2012, only 6% of the FFSA (for mental/intellectual disabilities) 310,000 sports facilities and open air and FFH (for motor and physical disa- sites are totally accessible to all types bilities). 60% of the mainstream sports of disability. However 60% of the sports federations have nominated a ‘sport and facilities have an accessible performance disability’ manager. 150 sports-related area (Senate Report, 2012). jobs were created, thanks to funding by the State. There is a constant increase in FFH offers 28 federated sports in re- funding to the sport and disability issues creational or competitive context. Specifi c (Ministry of Sports, 2015). In 2008, an sports have been created, such as torball- agreement was signed between the goalball or blind football (FFH-b, 2015). Ministry of Education, UNSS (National FFSA offers 82 sports disciplines including Union School Sport) , USEP (Union motoric activities. The motoric activities Sportive of Education of the First Degree), sector is specifi c to the FFSA. This non- FFH and FFSA to perform physical activi- competitive activities are aimed for ties and sports projects for young people people who suffer from severe physical or with disabilities. mental disability with physical limitations. Different types of infrastructure exist to guide disabled youth to sport. First of all, there are the Specialized Centers (centre d’éducation motrice) or the similar structures welcoming young disabled and providing integrated sport activities. In addition to this centers, there is the “sport on Wednesday” system aiming to provide weekly sport practice to young disabled. This sport sessions are realized thanks to sport teachers and educators. Lastly, the young disabled in inclusion in some valid schools can attend the sport courses inside the school with valid child- ren (Lassale, 2015) The sports ministry announced regularly measures to reduce disparities in access to sports. It aims knowledge of sport by For them this physical activity is essential to the clubs and associations (CNDS, 2014). developing the disabled and the offer in the contact with the outside (FFSA, There are also many private foundations for the disabled. In partnership with the 2015). These activities are an important that contribute to the fi nancing of adap- CREPS (resource centers, expertise and part of the federal activities in this area, ted sports and sports in youth. The FDJ sporting performance) and the PRNSH, both in the number of practitioners as Foundation and the EDF Foundation inclu- the Ministry of Sport provided two guides well as in time: more than 250 days for de very present in this area. Funding for with locations of the gymnasiums and 17,000 participants are organized by the certain programs or projects organized by swimming pools. These guides ensure regional and departmental committees.” civil society or regional committees. that disabled people can fi nd their way However, according to the qualitative to appropriate locations. Also there is a Regional and departmental level component on the mental disability in the free tool designed to help people with At regional level, the regional administra- FDJ survey (2015), most of the associations disabilities and young people with disabi- tion for Youth, Sports and Social Cohesi- responding to the survey state that sport lities to fi nd a sports club or facility near on (DRJSCS, French Ministry of Sport) as does not belong to their range of actions. their home. This tool is called Handiguide, main objective strengthening access to This assertion has two consequences: it’s free and easy to use. Of the 167,086 sport for disabled people and training in equipment problems for the educators in French sports are 5900 registered in the fi eld of disabled sport. The Sports Mi- the specialized centers and the increase of the Handiguide Database. In addition nistry is composed of many decentralized the supply depends consequently all the to the Handiguide, there are a number services at the regional and departmental more of the personal involvement of the of websites nationally.