Vincent was watching her through the window, and almost hugs her before she stepped through the door.
The young autistic is overflowing with enthusiasm by welcoming Brigitte Macron to her roommate, in the Villa Elena, a stone's throw from the Rue Etienne-Dolet metro station in Malakoff (Hauts-de-Seine).
And it is true that here, it is as much the energy of a common life as a house, which the First Lady came to greet.
In the vast renovated complex of 300 m2, live six young adults with disabilities: Douglas, Vianney, Vincent, Constance, Julia, and Laura.
The latter two have known each other for a long time, and moved here in early January, before being joined by the others.
All have chosen to live together, for the first time away from their families, supervised by a rotating team of five educators who teach them to become more independent every day.
As she visits the spacious and bright bedrooms upstairs, each with its own bathroom, Brigitte Macron is dazzled.
The tour ends on the villa's large rooftop, flooded by the scorching rays, where a sumptuous afternoon tea awaits them.
“I had seen inclusive habitats before, but never a real house like this.
And that's exactly what we can wish them: a right to real life ", insists the wife of the President of the Republic," For me, that's the main thing ", she adds.
While browsing the rooms, the first lady questions the roommates about their passions, their activities, and the routine of their life together.
“Édith Piaf, Michel Sardou, Mylène Farmer… you have good taste!
I also like French songs, ”exclaims Brigitte Macron while discovering Vianney's CD collection.
The young autistic would spend many hours showing them all to him.
Laura, 27 years old with Down's syndrome, talks about her restaurant internship plans.
An intermediate solution
On the eve of World Autism Day, this joyful and somewhat crazy reception allows Brigitte Macron and Sophie Cluzel, the Secretary of State in charge of disability, to promote a government measure hitherto passed under the control. radars: shared living assistance.
Included in the 2021 social security financing bill (PLFSS), this allowance tends to institutionalize an already existing package.
With an amount spread between 3,000 and 10,000 euros per year per person, co-financed by the State and the departments, this aid is in addition to the disabled adult allowance (AAH).
It allows people who wish to live in a small collective structure (between 6 and 10 people), through associations carrying projects such as the Club des six, here at the origin of the adventure of the villa Elena.
An intermediate solution between life in an institution, and a loneliness sometimes badly experienced by people with disabilities who still wish to gain their autonomy.
“This is the future,” assures Sophie Cluzel.
This already existed, initiated by families and associations, but it was until now marginal because it was based on administrative and financial tinkering.
Shared living assistance will now make it possible to secure projects, but also to lay down a general framework so that local actors can take it upon themselves.
“And to respond to the philosophy of inclusion of people with disabilities, claimed by Brigitte Macron herself.
"There are still too few efforts for inclusive education"
Because since the presidential campaign of 2017, its commitment to disability has always been a marker, to the point of becoming its most emblematic cause.
For his part, Emmanuel Macron had made it his subject "carte blanche", during the crucial debate between two rounds against Marine Le Pen on May 3, 2017.
Still, some associations are not satisfied with the results of the five-year term at this stage.
“My meeting with Brigitte Macron just before the presidential election had raised a lot of hope, because she was very involved and very open, says Olivia Cattan, president of the SOS Autism association.
Then, we were very disappointed by the discrepancy between words and deeds.
Little has been done and we find the door closed since the election ”.
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Finally, if Olivia Cattan finds the device of shared apartments interesting, she believes that in terms of autism, the priorities lie elsewhere.
“There are still too many delays in diagnoses and too little effort for inclusive education,” she underlines.
A real challenge on the education of people with disabilities that Brigitte Macron quotes herself.