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Protesting with a disability or chronic condition

Key points

  • Emergency for deaf people or those who cannot speak: 114 by text, chat or video.
  • Medication for 48 hours, prescription and a medical sheet on paper.
  • A dedicated buddy and a scouted route (accessible section of the march, side streets).
  • In custody: ask for a doctor immediately; free sign-language interpreter if needed.

Accessible emergency number (114)

Deaf, hard-of-hearing, aphasic or non-speaking people: contact 114 by SMS, chat or video (free, 24/7 in France).1

Before you go: preparing your autonomy and care

  • Medication and prescriptions: bring 48 hours' worth of your medication (asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, heart or pain treatment) in its original packaging with a paper copy of your prescription.23
  • Paper medical note in your pocket: medication, schedule, allergies, emergency contact and your regular doctor's details.3
  • Disability card (Carte mobilité inclusion — CMI) (copy or original) if you hold one.
  • Dedicated buddy: never go alone; agree with one or two people to stay at your pace and accompany you all the way home.4
  • Route check: check with organising unions or groups whether there is an accessible contingent (support vehicle, adapted pace, step-free route) and spot accessible stations and step-free side streets in advance.4

During the protest: tear gas, noise and crowd movements

  • Asthma, respiratory or heart conditions: tear gas (CS) can trigger severe bronchospasm. Keep your inhaler (bronchodilator) within immediate reach, wear a filtering mask and stay at the back or on well-ventilated sides of the march.56
  • Sensory hypersensitivity, autism, tinnitus: stun grenade blasts and sirens often exceed pain thresholds; bring earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones and tinted glasses, and agree on a simple hand signal with your buddy to leave the crowd without needing to speak.4
  • Reduced mobility or wheelchair: stay near clear perpendicular streets (without barriers or high kerbs) so you can leave the march at the first sign of tension or kettling.4

If arrested or taken into custody

French law provides specific safeguards for your health and accessibility in police custody (garde à vue):72

  1. Medical examination and continuity of treatment: ask immediately for a doctor as soon as your rights are notified. Hand them your prescription: the doctor rules on whether your health is compatible with remaining in custody and prescribes the administration of your essential medication throughout detention.72
  2. Deafness or speech difficulties: you are entitled free of charge to a sign-language interpreter (LSF) or any technical aid allowing you to communicate with investigators and your lawyer from the start of custody.7
  3. Adults under guardianship or curatorship (tutelle / curatelle): the senior police officer (OPJ) is legally required to notify your guardian or curator, who can appoint a lawyer or request a medical examination on your behalf.7

Read the "Protests and disability" report (Reporterre) and health resources in the directory

In one of these situations? disabled

Sources

Each note links to the source of the information. Most sources are in French. Laws change: check the date of the source and, if in doubt, ask a lawyer.

  1. Emergency 114 — Emergency number for deaf and hard-of-hearing people · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  2. Syndicat de la magistrature — Guide du manifestant arrêté · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩↩↩

  3. EFF Surveillance Self-Defense — Attending a protest · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩↩

  4. Reporterre — Manifs et handicap, le long parcours du combattant · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩↩↩↩

  5. Allodocteurs — En manifestation, comment se protéger des gaz lacrymo ? · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  6. Street medics — Les gestes à adopter en manif (booklet) · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  7. Service-Public — Garde à vue · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩↩↩↩

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