Disability affects 12 million people in France and remains the leading cause of discrimination.
The “Forbidden Zone” teams were interested in the reception conditions and care for people with disabilities in schools and specialized institutes.
A failing system that they tried to understand by investigating several families for a year, by infiltrating establishments and collecting exclusive testimonies.
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Bullying
Humiliation, mistreatment, staff shortages at all levels, lack of training... Their findings are very alarming.
The documentary focuses part of its discussion on inclusion at school.
Since 2005, a law has guaranteed the right to schooling for all children, regardless of their situation.
In 2013, another text strengthened the integration of disabled students by allowing better consideration of their specific needs thanks, in particular, to a personalized support plan.
A measure from which 430,000 children would benefit today.
Figures that hide a completely different reality.
Hired in a college as a support for students with disabilities (AESH), one of the journalists on the show was able to see for herself the sordid reality playing out on the ground: in addition to the too many limited staff, some teachers are inactive and have lost interest in the children, who, due to bullying and lack of stimulation, do not progress and withdraw into themselves.
In France, 480,000 disabled people live in homes and educational medical institutes.
Places which are bearing the brunt of the glaring lack of caregivers - the sector has a deficit of 50,000 people - and unfortunately do not escape severe failures and abuses.
In certain institutes, residents live in undignified conditions and suffer mistreatment.
“Forbidden Zone” even lifts the veil on a financial scandal: people with disabilities would be robbed of their benefits.
Severe abuses
The film also highlights the struggle of several parents of disabled children facing a lack of places in specialized establishments - 30,000 children and their families would thus be left behind.
Many parents are forced to leave their jobs in order to be able to care for their children full-time, due to a lack of adequate support.
Exhausted and angry, they feel abandoned by the State and bear witness to their daily obstacle course.
Like Sandrine, mother of Arthur, 7 years old, who suffers from a severe form of autism.
Exasperated, she threatens to chain herself in front of the regional health agency near her home to get answers.
Virginie and Kevin chose exile for the well-being and development of their 7-year-old son Jules, who has multiple disabilities.
A Belgian institute, touched by their distress, agreed to welcome him.
Thanks to the adapted facilities and the care provided by professionals, the little boy is making phenomenal progress.