France's progress in the education of disabled students has materialized more in primary than in secondary, and not enough in access to buildings - MARTIN BUREAU AFP

A few days before the start of the school year, announcements on disability. Schools will welcome 385,000 students with disabilities next week, 6% more than last year, said the Secretary of State in charge of the dossier Sophie Cluzel on Thursday, also highlighting the recruitment of 4,000 additional accompanying persons.

With these hires, “there are more than 100,000 accompanying persons” of children with disabilities (AESH) “who will be alongside the students,” Ms. Cluzel observed on Sud Radio, praising a “considerable effort”.

# RENTREE2020 # 8000 #AESH for the support of # students with #handicap this is a major step forward for the #schooling of all children in the # republic, whatever their difference @jmblanquer @gouvernementFR pic.twitter. com / uXPpMmBNEr

- Sophie Cluzel (@s_cluzel) August 27, 2020

350 new specialized classes in mainstream schools

Of these 385,000 students, 104,500 will be accommodated in localized units for educational inclusion (Ulis), that is to say specialized classes created within ordinary schools. This year, 350 new Ulis were created (including 205 in secondary schools), an increase of almost 4%.

Ms. Cluzel's services also highlight the efforts made this year to educate children with an autistic disorder: more than 1,800 autistic students are now "educated in dedicated devices", or + 45% compared to the start of the school year. 2019. In primary school, enrollment has doubled.

Families and associations not completely convinced

As every year, these efforts do not completely convince families and associations: Unapei, a federation which brings together associations of people with intellectual disabilities and their families, sounded the alarm on Tuesday, affirming that "thousands of children with disabilities remain excluded from school ”for the start of the 2020 school year.

The association denounces in particular the care that is not adapted to the needs of the pupils, or only part-time, or even cases where families are not offered any schooling. Asked about this point, Sophie Cluzel suggested to families "waiting for a solution" to dial the toll-free number set up for them, 0805.805.110 (or 0800.730.123, accessible to hearing-impaired people).

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