Notes for the Disabled in Geneva, Switzerland

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Notes for the Disabled in Geneva, Switzerland

• See the AngloFILE listings for Geneva Support Groups
• Notes for the Disabled in France: Click here

Travel & Transport in Switzerland

The Swiss railways (SBB) has comprehensive information on the website for physically disabled, hearing and sight impaired passengers (in English).

The SBB Call Center Handicap is open daily for information:

• Open from: 06:00 to 22:00
  Tel: 0800 007 102 (toll free from Switzerland)
  Tel: +41 (0)51 225 71 50 (from outside Switzerland)
  Fax: +41 (0)51 225 70 90
  e-mail 
  Website (see the menu options to the left beneath heading "Passengers with a handicap")

Swiss International Airports

The European Parliament passed a regulation that will facilitate air flights for people with reduced mobility. This should be put into practice in 2008. The regulations establish that people with reduced mobility should have free, special assistance when needed in airplanes, airports, baggage check in and with flight connections.
Responsibility has been passed to the airports to accommodate the needs of the disabled traveller. Air companies will still be at liberty to provide services to people with reduced mobility.

Parking

Cars parked in disabled spaces must display a disabled person's sticker or EU blue badge. This will allow parking in designated spaces.

Parking authorisation cards or blue badges are issued to disabled drivers and passengers by the disabled person's canton of residence. A medical certificate must be shown on application as proof of disability

Parking authorisation cards are valid throughout Switzerland for both Blue Zones and metered parking.

A variety of cards reflect the different circumstances

Cards may be issued to: 

• a driver with a physical handicap
• a disabled person regularly transported by another person
• a person frequently transporting physically disabled people

The card must contain the following information:

• the type of authorisation card
• driver identification details and/or full name and address of the beneficiary
• cantonal issuing office and/or issuing authority's stamp
• year of validity
• authorisation number and/or vehicle number;

The card allows: 

When there is no public or private parking space free:

• Up to four hours parking in a 20 minute zone
• Up to two hours parking in a no parking zone (provided the car is not causing an obstruction)
• And in some cities, free parking in metered zone (the police will be able to provide information)

The blue badge is a standardised European Community disabled person's parking permit which provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries - a blue badge from one country is valid in another. A person coming to Switzerland from another EU country may wish to apply in their home country for this universal badge which allows the use of reserved parking.

• Disabled spaces in car parks reserved for disabled people are marked with a yellow line and wheelchair symbol
• Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number
• Parking may be allowed for up to 6 hours in areas where parking is restricted by time; check with local authorities
• Parking is sometimes allowed for up to 2 hours in ZTL areas (roads where traffic is restricted); check with local authorities
• Parking and driving may be allowed in pedestrian zones; check with local authorities
• Check signage or with car park attendants as some car parks offer free parking for the disabled

Driver's with a blue badge from another European country may display these translations beside a badge written in another language (text from the UK Automobile Association):

• See the UK Automobile Association website for more information: Click here

• More information from the International Transport Forum: Click here

• To see a sample badge: Click here (PDF)

Transport services for the disabled in Geneva

• Aloha - Tel: +41(0)22 321 12 21
• Paramedica - Tel: +41 (0)22 348 53 15
• Transport One - Tel: +41 (0)79 776 26 17
• Transport Handicap - Tel: +41 (0)22 794 52 52

Equipment

Most large towns have outlets selling or hiring equipment for the disabled and elderly: wheelchairs (fauteuils roulants in French), mini-lifts, mobility scooters, walkers and general orthopedic equipment. A pharmacy will be able to provide further information

• See The AngloFILE for English-speaking Pharmacies, Medical Supplies & Services 

Blind/Visually Impaired

The Swiss National Association for the Blind has information on all aspects of Swiss life and support for the blind and visually impaired. See the Website

Library and Resource Centre for the Blind and Visually Impaired will post books, videos and audio books (in English) anywhere in Switzerland. They may be borrowed for up to four weeks without charge. The games library has over 500 tactile games and books available 

• Swiss National Association of and for the Blind (SNAB) 
  Library & Resource Centre 
  At: Schützengasse 4, CH-9000 St.Gallen
  Tel: +41 (0) 71 223 36 36 
  Fax: +41 (0) 71 222 73 18 
  e-mail
  Website
• SNAB Games Library
  At: Kirchlindachstrasse 49, CH-3052 Zollikofen
  Website

Blind and visually impaired residents of Switzerland have been entitled to free postage since 1905. This applies to letters, which are not intended to have a lucrative gain and must be only small packages. White canes may be transported free.

Deaf/Hearing Inpaired

The Geneva Association for the Hard of Hearing (French) has group meets once a month to discuss issues affecting the hard of hearing. There are also social events too.

• Association Genevoise des Malentendants 
  At: Boulevard Helvétique 27, 1207 Genève
  Tel: +41 (0)22 735 54 90
  Fax: +41(0)22 735 57 33
  Website

Swiss association for the hard of hearing:

• Forum écoute
  At: Avenue des Jordils 5 , 1006 Lausanne
  Tel: +41 (0)21 614 60 50
  Fax: +41 (0)21 614 60 51
  Open: Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 13:00
  Website

Organisations for Disabled in Geneva & Switzerland

• Geneva Handicap website for regionally specific information and contacts for all disabilities (in French)
• Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO)
• Agile (French and German)
• Independent Living Centre in Zurich specialises in personal assistance policy (French and German)
• Eurokey: protection of facilities for disabled

Mobility International Switzerland (MIS) specialises in tourism and information for the disabled to and in Switzerland

• Mobility International Switzerland (MIS) (Mobility International Schweiz)
  At: Froburgstrasse 4, Postfach, CH-4601 Olten
  Tel: +41 (0)62 206 88 35
  Fax: +41 (0)62 206 88 39
  Open: Monday to Friday 08:30 to 12:00 and 13:15 to 17:00
  e-mail 
  Website (in German)

Note: Most of this information for the disabled takes you to services in French-language only.

• Information for the disabled and application forms for the Disabled Persons Card, are available from the centre communal d'action sociale, at your local Mairie, or COTOREP (commission technique d'orientation et de reclassement professionnel). The card provides for discounts and assistance in various areas.
• France Telecom has a selection of services for users. Ask for Télécom et Handicaps at your local office.
• Travel and tourism info for the disabled is available in a French guide, published by Association France-Handicaps.
• Most large towns have a pharmacy or medical supplier for purchase or rental of equipment for the disabled and elderly: wheelchairs (fauteuils-roulants, manuel/électrique), mini-lifts, walkers and general orthopedic equipment. Look in the Pages Jaunes (French yellow pages) under the heading "Handicapées: matériel et services pour".

• The CCAS (Centre Communal d'Actions Sociales) is an organisation which provides practical assistance and social interaction for elderly and disabled people. It also has specialised vehicles for people with reduced mobility. Enquire at your Mairie.

Trains: S.N.C.F.

SNCF railway organisation caters to hearing and sight impaired, physically disabled and wheelchair bound passengers by providing designated spaces and facilities marked in the carriages. In some areas, adapted transport service to the station can be provided.

• SNCF's accessibility service for passengers with disabilities (more information is available on their website)

• Tel freephone: 08 00 15 47 53

Car Hire

Europcar and Hertz and some branches of Holiday Cars have adapted cars - brakes and accelerator on steering wheel - available for hire to paraplegic drivers. Car must be reserved 7 days in advance.

• Europcar: 0803 352 352

• Hertz: 0825 342 343

• Holiday Cars

Parking

Cars parked in disabled spaces must display the GIG - GIC disabled sticker in the window. The European Community has proposed that all countries in the EC use a standardised blue disabled person's parking badge. If you are coming to France from another EU country, it would be wise to apply in your home country for this universal Blue Badge. It will allow you to use reserved parking in France as you would in your home country.

• Some details on this website

French Associations for the Disabled and Mobility Reduced

• Handica.com: French website with general information, articles, recourses and legal information.

• HANDiCAPSPORT.com: French website, the "information crossroads" with information on sport and recreation for the physically disabled.

• Fédération  Française Handisport: French website detailing the national and international programme of sporting activities and events.

• Handicap.Gouv: French government website with full details of practical, legal and social relevance to the disabled resident of France.

• Comité National Francais de Liaison pour la Réadaptation des Handicapés
  Tel: 01 53 80 66 66

• English Language Library for the Blind (Paris)
  Tel: 01 42 93 47 57

• Association des Paralysés de France: French website with news, information and advise for people living with paralysis in France.

• COTOREP (Commission Technique d'Orientation et de Reclassement Professionnel) is the overseeing body for information on disability benefits and other relevant information.

Other associations

Calibre Audio Books: UK charity, Calibre, supplies audio books in English on cassette or disk to visually impaired and disabled people. The free service is available to members (registration can be made via the website). Free postal service is available to anywhere in Europe. 

• Calibre
  Tel: + 44 1296 432339
  Fax: + 44 1296 392599
  e-mail 
  Website

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