Disability services

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The objectives set by the University of Bordeaux in terms of disabilities are divided into several specific plans of action in order to accommodate and support staff and students with disabilities while they work and study.

Photo : 80% of disabilities are non-visible © Arthur Pequin
80% of disabilities are non-visible © Arthur Pequin
  • Disabilities are an important issue for inclusion and quality of life In both professional and academic settings
  • Specific measures and actions have been implemented to facilitate the daily life of staff and students with disabilities

Policy, tools and actions

The University of Bordeaux is strongly dedicated to and involved in welcoming its community members with disabilities and providing them guidance with an adaptive, supportive and individualised perspective on a case-by-case basis.

Its policy is based on a renewed master plan and a set of documents that define and guide its actions.

The agreement with the French organisation FIPHFP (Fund for the integration of disabled people into Public Service > in French) is an additional step towards further structuring the university's disability policy. The University of Bordeaux also has a policy of supporting the disabled by purchasing services from disability employers such as adapted social enterprises (entreprises adaptées) or supported employment workplaces (ESAT - Etablissement de service et d’aide par le travail) within the framework of the public calls for tenders it makes.

  • Mission Officer - Disabilities

    Eric Dugas

    +33 (0)6 11 33 29 35

    eric.dugas%40u-bordeaux.fr

Master plan for disabilities (in French)

Last update:

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Tools for steering the University of Bordeaux's Disability policy

Report "Schedule for Programmed Accessibility" (document available on Nuxeo in French)

Public Records of Accessibility (document available on Nuxeo in French)

The agreement with the French organisation FIPHFP (Fund for the integration of disabled people into Public Service) is an additional step towards further structuring its disability policy. The agreement focuses on 6 areas:

  • recruiting, accommodating apprentices and interns and helping them retain jobs 
  • communicating through the structuring of a network of local ambassadors 
  • informing and awareness-raising of disability issues
  • developing a specific training offer for staff
  • providing accessibility to digital services
  • increasing purchases from disability employers

Collective research projects

The University of Bordeaux participates in applied research projects dedicated to serving people with disabilities. They are aimed at improving their daily life on and off campus.

Links in French

On-campus accessibility

All new and renovated buildings are subject to accessibility requirements for people with disabilities:

Digital accessibility

Duoday: a major initiative for inclusion

Since 2019, the University of Bordeaux has been organising Duoday, a national initiative that pairs up people with disabilities and volunteer professionals in duos. Objectives: change the way people look at disabilities and promote the employment of disabled people.

In concrete terms, for one day, university staff members share their day-to-day work with a disabled person/student to help them discover a profession and get a clearer picture of their career objectives. The feedback for the experience has been unanimously positive; and every year several staff members get involved in becoming mentors for a person with a disability.

  • 43

    duos at the university

    since 2019

  • no. 1

    ranked university

    in terms of number of duos

The university accompanies people with disabilities as soon as they arrive © University of Bordeaux

The disability policy is at the heart of the University of Bordeaux's strategy. It is an inclusive, global approach since it concerns both students and staff, training and research, not to mention genuine accessibility, in particular to its facilities, sports and cultural events, and digital tools.

Eric Dugas - Mission Officer for Disabilities

Students with disabilities

Whatever the disability, whether it is temporary or permanent, whether it is motor, auditory, visual, language or psychological, the University of Bordeaux has set up a policy of welcoming students with disabilities and providing them with personalised support so that they can make the most of their studies, their inclusion and their social life throughout the academic year.

A network of dedicated contacts

  • a support service for students with special needs (PHASE)
  • specific support officers within the faculties of each university training component

They are responsible for:

  • Facilitating the pursuit of university studies by proposing appropriate accommodated services (tutoring/examination secretarial services/pedagogical assistance/extended time/photocopies/subject enlargements/French sign language interpreting, etc.)
  • Taking stock of the needs, smooth running, specific conditions of access and programme assessment methods, in liaison with the the MDHP (departmental office for the disabled > in French)
  • Acting as an interface between students, the university community and external partners

Studying and disabilities

There are various support and accommodation schemes available depending on your situation.
Contact the support officer on your campus as soon as you start the academic year.

Learn more

Staff with disabilities or special needs

The university's disability strategy for its staff is based on three main points:

  • training and awareness-raising for employees on the subject of disability
  • supporting staff with disabilities
  • recruiting staff with disabilities and ensuring their job retention

 

The disability liaison officer: a key point of contact

The disability liaison officer advises and supports all staff with disabilities or special needs:

  • in their administrative procedures, in particular for the preparation of the application for RQTH (Recognised Disabled Worker Status).
  • in the adaptation of their workstation and the improvement of their professional conditions for higher job retention.

Accommodations and assistance

Several measures have been put in place to facilitate your daily life in the workplace:

  • adaptation of conditions for job interviews
  • adaptation of workstations
  • accommodation of conditions in which you carry out your duties: flexible working hours, teleworking, part-time work
  • accommodated continuing education, skills assessment, etc.
  • financial and social assistance: reimbursement of transport costs, adaptation of the workspace at home, participation in the acquisition of individual equipment, etc.

Learn more

Contacts

  • Nathalie Constant

    Disability Liaison Officer
    General administration and human resources division

    +33 (0)6 19 64 75 12

    correspondant.handicap%40u-bordeaux.fr

  • Sandrine Labissière

    Financial and Administrative Manager for Disabilities

    +33 (0)5 40 00 24 03

    sandrine.labissiere%40u-bordeaux.fr

Information, social support or assistance with MDPH application

Social assistance

Beyond the image it conveys, the process of being recognised as a disabled employee by the MDPH (Departmental office for the disabled) needs to be viewed positively.
The assistance that recognition can provide is likely to improve the employability of the person concerned.

Contacts

  • Marine Olivares

    Social worker

    +33 (0)5 40 00 37 23 / +33 (0)6 09 90 10 07

    marine.olivares%40u-bordeaux.fr

  • Annick Arduin

    Social worker

    +33 (0)5 56 84 62 58

    annick.arduin%40u-bordeaux.fr

Medical monitoring, improvement of working conditions and adaptation of workplace

The Occupational Health Department provides occupational medical services to all university staff. As such, when staff members have recognised disabled employee status (RQTH), the department is responsible for monitoring them medically throughout their career.

The preventive medicine physician's guidance is essential for any accommodations made to the workstation/work routine.

Contacts

  • Brigitte Lengronne

    Secretariat - Occupational Health Department
    Peixotto - Bordes Campus

    +33 (0)5 40 00 60 60

    brigitte.lengronne%40u-bordeaux.fr

  • Hayette Elbeldi

    Secretariat - Occupational Health Department - Carreire and Montesquieu Campus

    +33 (0)5 40 00 37 11

    hayette.elbeldi%40u-bordeaux.fr

Job retention for staff with disabilities

Job retention for disabled staff is a priority

In addition to job adjustments, all means of accommodation and compensation are sought to foster job retention. The efforts are made in close collaboration between the disability liaison officer, occupational physicians, the university's social services and the career guidance and support department.

Learn more