Marc Borgetto, an experienced skier and trained engineer, who is also paraplegic, has filed a patent for a mobile platform, the Snowheel. The aim is to help seated skiers (using ski-ing equipment for paraplegics) to reach the ski slopes.

"I've seen this sport develop gradually, with all its attendant difficulties, not only in terms of techniques and equipment but also in terms of accessibility." The Snowheel enables seated skiers to use the cable cars without assistance and without getting out of their wheelchairs. Available for purchase by ski resorts, it offers a practical solution to France's 2005 Act on equal rights and opportunities, participation and citizenship for disabled persons.

The company Handi-technology, founded by Marc Borgetto, manufactures, markets and maintains the Snowheel, as well as other equipment designed to promote the mobility of disabled persons and help them engage in sporting activities.

The Geodis Foundation awarded Mr Borgetto a Guy Crescent prize to enable him to continue his activities and develop his project internationally.

Sylvie Moisant, who suffers from a neurological illness, has decided to remain active and to work towards her professional redeployment. "After spending twenty years in the public sector,
I would like to redeploy my skills, drawing upon all my experience and linking all my abilities."

Sylvie Moisant has founded the company Ecristyle, a public letter-writing firm. The company works for people who have little or no writing skills, as well as providing services tailored to the needs of disabled persons (specific administrative assistance, support in job-seeking, etc.). She recently received the endorsement of the Académie des Ecrivains Publics de France (French academy of public letter-writers).

Encouraging this entrepreneurial project, the Geodis Foundation has awarded Sylvie Moisant a Guy Crescent prize to help her set up and begin her new business activity.

Company manager and co-producer, Jérome Adam is introducing series 2 in a programme of videos entitled "J'en croix pas mes yeux" (I can't believe my eyes), which look at disablement from a humorous standpoint. Adopting an ironic but gentle tone, the videos review a series of misunderstandings, blunders and received ideas between an able-bodied person and a disabled person.

These short videos are designed to demystify disablement and do away with the feeling of clumsiness experienced by an able-bodied person in relation to a disabled person. They are shown in companies and are also available online. They provide a basis on which to initiate a dialogue on the subject of disablement and contribute to raising awareness on the problems of disablement in everyday life.

"I believe that disablement should be viewed as a difficulty, not as part of somebody's identity."

Jérôme Adam has been blind from the age of 15. He already has several entrepreneurial experiences in the field of innovation and the accessibility of new technologies. His primary aim is to change behaviour and to create links between able-bodied and disabled people.

The Geodis Foundation has given him a Guy Crescent prize in recognition of his exemplary work and to be a partner in "J'en crois pas mes yeux".

Observing that only visually-impaired adults benefitted from guide dogs, Frédéric Gaillanne, a blind person, founded the Mira Europe association to train guide dogs and provide them free of charge to blind children aged between 12 and 18.

“Through my own experience as a blind person, every day I see how much my guide dog helps me in terms of mobility, independence, safety and contacts.” The association trains and prepares dogs and educates teenagers on how to work with their future companions and how to take care of them. It also provides follow-up support at home and school for the blind children, who spend eight years with their dog.

Mira Europe, currently staffed by six salaried employees, organises awareness-raising programmes on visual disabilities to develop contact with the public. Through its founding chairman, Frédéric Gaillanne, the Geodis Foundation wanted to acknowledge this innovation and help to ensure the long-term future of the association.

Site :
www.miraeurope.org

Contact : contact@miraeurope.org

“I set myself no limits in working, researching, creating, innovating, convincing and enjoying myself through my passion and achieving my goals.” With a view to setting up his own web design company, Thomas Veillon set himself two objectives: to win the World Skills France competition (which he did, on 5 February 2011) and making the finals of the international World Skills event held in Seoul in September of this year. 

Thomas Veillon, quadraplegic following an accident, uses a special technology combining the movements of his head, his breath and a system of sending/receiving signals via his screen. This innovative technology has already enabled him to create several websites and take part in high-level competitions.

To encourage Thomas Veillon, who shows a real desire to attain independence and seek new challenges, the Geodis Foundation has awarded him with a €30,000 prize to acquire more efficient IT equipment

Site :
www.thomasveillon.com

Contact : contact@thomasveillon.com