Vocabulary related to disability and accessibility appears on signs, in transport, at work, in public services, and in administrative applications.
Administrative conversations may involve recognition of disability, benefits, application files, and supporting documents.
Disability and mobility needs
Some expressions describe disability broadly, while others identify a particular mobility need or aid. These terms may appear in conversation, on forms, on signs, and in accessibility information:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un handicap | a disability |
| une personne en situation de handicap | a person with a disability |
| l'accessibilité | accessibility |
| un besoin d'accessibilité | an accessibility need |
| un aménagement | an accommodation / adaptation |
| une personne à mobilité réduite | a person with reduced mobility |
| un fauteuil roulant | a wheelchair |
| une canne | a cane |
| des béquilles | crutches |
| un déambulateur | a walker |
| un ascenseur | an elevator / lift |
| une rampe d'accès | an access ramp |
| une entrée accessible | an accessible entrance |
| accessible en fauteuil roulant | wheelchair accessible |
In France, personne en situation de handicap is common in public and administrative language. The abbreviation PMR, for personne à mobilité réduite, also appears on signs and accessibility information.
When mobility affects access or everyday activities, these sentences describe what a person needs or ask about the features of a place:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J'utilise un fauteuil roulant. | I use a wheelchair. |
| J'ai du mal à marcher sur de longues distances. | I have difficulty walking long distances. |
| Je ne peux pas rester debout longtemps. | I can't stand for long. |
| J'ai besoin d'aide pour monter les escaliers. | I need help going up the stairs. |
| Est-ce que l'entrée est accessible en fauteuil roulant ? | Is the entrance wheelchair accessible? |
| Y a-t-il un ascenseur ? | Is there an elevator? |
| Où se trouve l'entrée accessible ? | Where is the accessible entrance? |
Accessible en fauteuil roulant describes a place that a wheelchair user can enter and use. À mobilité réduite has a wider meaning and may also apply to someone who walks with difficulty or uses another mobility aid.
Hearing, vision, and communication
Accessibility is also related to hearing, vision, or the way information is communicated. These words cover hearing and sight, and the means used to communicate:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| sourd / sourde | deaf |
| malentendant / malentendante | hard of hearing |
| aveugle | blind |
| malvoyant / malvoyante | partially sighted / with low vision |
| la langue des signes | sign language |
| un interprète / une interprète | an interpreter |
| le braille | braille |
| les gros caractères | large print |
| par écrit | in writing |
| un accompagnant / une accompagnante | a support person / companion |
In France, French Sign Language is called la langue des signes française, commonly abbreviated to LSF. Other French-speaking regions may use different sign languages.
Specific requests make the form of communication or assistance you need clear:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je suis malentendante. | I am hard of hearing. |
| Je lis sur les lèvres. | I lip-read. |
| J'ai besoin d'un interprète en langue des signes. | I need a sign language interpreter. |
| Pouvez-vous me regarder quand vous parlez ? | Can you look at me when you speak? |
| J'ai besoin des informations par écrit. | I need the information in writing. |
| Avez-vous ce document en gros caractères ? | Do you have this document in large print? |
| Je suis malvoyant. | I have low vision. |
| Mon accompagnante doit rester avec moi. | My support person needs to stay with me. |
Ask for an accommodation
An accommodation may involve physical access, communication, extra time, assistance, or a change to the usual way a service is provided. These questions explain what you need and ask whether it can be arranged:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J'ai besoin d'un aménagement. | I need an accommodation. |
| J'ai besoin de plus de temps. | I need more time. |
| Est-ce que mon accompagnant peut rester avec moi ? | Can my support person stay with me? |
| Pouvez-vous noter les informations pour moi ? | Can you write the information down for me? |
| Est-ce qu'un interprète peut être présent ? | Can an interpreter be present? |
| Est-ce que ce service est accessible ? | Is this service accessible? |
| À qui dois-je signaler mes besoins d'accessibilité ? | Who should I tell about my accessibility needs? |
Un aménagement refers to a change or arrangement made to meet a person's needs. The exact accommodation depends on the setting, such as a workplace, school, public service, event, or transport service.
Disability recognition, benefits, and documents
Applications for disability recognition or support may require forms and supporting documents. The names of benefits and the rules for receiving them vary between countries, but several general terms recur:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la reconnaissance du handicap | official recognition of disability |
| une demande | an application / request |
| un dossier | a file / application |
| un dossier de demande | an application file |
| un formulaire | a form |
| un justificatif | a supporting document |
| un certificat médical | a medical certificate |
| un renouvellement | a renewal |
| une prestation | a benefit |
| une allocation | an allowance / benefit |
| des prestations liées au handicap | disability-related benefits |
Un dossier may refer to the collection of documents submitted for an administrative request. A medical certificate may be one supporting document within that application. Une prestation is a broad administrative term for a benefit or service provided under a particular system.
These questions and statements cover common parts of an application or renewal:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Quels documents faut-il fournir ? | What documents are required? |
| Je dois déposer un dossier de demande. | I need to submit an application. |
| Est-ce que ce document est encore valable ? | Is this document still valid? |
| Je dois renouveler mon dossier. | I need to renew my application. |
| Où dois-je envoyer le dossier ? | Where do I need to send the application? |
| Quelles prestations puis-je demander ? | What benefits can I apply for? |
| Combien de temps faut-il pour traiter la demande ? | How long does it take to process the application? |
Handicap and invalidité are not interchangeable in every administrative system. Invalidité may refer to a specific legal, insurance, or work-capacity status, so the meaning depends on the country and the organization using the term.
From learning to practice
On transport, government, workplace, event, or public-service websites in French, look for terms such as accessibilité, PMR, and aménagement. They often lead to practical information about physical access, communication support, available assistance, and how to request an accommodation.