On the peninsula of Giens, the association A Fauteuil à la Mer has undertaken to develop the beach for wheelchair users, who find feelings sometimes lost for a long time.

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Happiness is at the end of the pontoon: a jet-ski specially adapted for people with reduced mobility. "There you have a rail system, you can move forward or backward depending on the needs of the person," says Kelly, a member of the association "Armchair at Sea." There is an integral file, from head down to the pool, we have the monitor who will settle on the jet and they will be able to go into activity. "

Here, on the peninsula of Giens, in the Var, the association that works for the accessibility of bathing places to all disabled people has done a lot of work: adapt this small secluded beach for wheelchair users. Jet-ski so, but also boat ride, diving, canoeing ... Iic, everything becomes possible again. "Fifteen years ago, we could not do all that," recalls Domenico, a regular. "It was almost impossible, people had to help us, bring us straight into the water."

"Find all your feelings before"

The difference is radical. "There, we are in total autonomy, I leave home, alone, I come here, I bathe.This changes everything, we become autonomous again," rejoices Domenico. Jean-Michel, paraplegic for 37 years, does not say anything else after enjoying the jet-ski. "It's a total freedom, which allows us to be able to drive, to recover all our sensations from before, in a previous life that we have lost.It's great to take the turns, the waves at full speed."

From now on, the regulars hope that the initiatives of the association A Armchair at the sea will serve as an example.