Disabled child: childcare center, drop-in center, kindergarten

Verified 17 August 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If the disability of your child under 3 years of age allows him to be accommodated in an ordinary facility, you can enroll him in a nursery, child care center or kindergarten. More specialized structures exist if your child cannot fit into an ordinary structure or if he or she needs special follow-up.

If your child's disability allows them to be accommodated in a nursery, drop-in center or kindergarten, you can register them in one of these facilities.

The nursery is a permanent welcome package, while the day care center or kindergarten is a temporary welcome package (a few hours from time to time).

Registration is done by contacting the Early Childhood department of your city hall.

Who shall I contact

This first contact with the Early Childhood Service will allow you to obtain information on the registration and the list of documents to provide to constitute the registration file.

To be supported in your approach, you can get closer to one of the following structures:

  • Departmental Maternal and Child Protection Service (PMI)
  • Center for Early Medical-Social Action (CAMSP)
  • Safep, only if your child has a sensory impairment (e.g. deafness)

The contact details of CAMSP and Safep can be obtained from your city hall.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

there is no legal requirement for these facilities to accommodate children with disabilities. However, a refusal on the sole ground of a child's disability may be recognized as discriminatory and may be appealed to the court Defender of Rights.

If your child's level of disability does not allow him or her to be accommodated in an ordinary facility, then you can enroll him or her in a specialized facility.

The specialized structure was able to meet the needs of children with severe disabilities. It may take the following form:

  • institute of medical education (childcare for children with cognitive impairment, e.g. impaired memory)
  • Establishment for polyhandicapped persons (accommodation for children with both mental and sensory and/or motor disabilities)
  • Institute of sensory education (reception of children with hearing and visual disabilities)
  • Institute for Motor Education (reception of children with a motor disability)

These facilities accommodate children on a full-time or part-time basis.

In order for your child to be accommodated in one of these facilities, you must first contact the departmental home for disabled people (MDPH).

Who shall I contact

It is then the Commission on the Rights and Autonomy of Persons with Disabilities (CDAPH) that makes the decision to refer your child to one of these structures.

Contact the organization for registration information and a list of documents to be provided to complete the registration.