🔴💜 🚨⚖️ Intimacy and disability: an ambitious action plan, but will it be enough to break taboos and inequalities?

Between promises of training, protocols against violence and adaptation of spaces,this 2026-2027 plan marks a step forward. However, the urgency remains: how to ensure real access to sexual health and autonomy when cultural, institutional and financial barriers persist? The field awaits action.

A focus on ESSMS in this article

Source: 📒 Action plan 2026-2027 for the intimate, emotional and sexual lives of people with disabilities and against violence📜🔗LINK 

At the heart of the subject 

1. ANALYTICAL SUMMARY

Context: hindered recognition of a fundamental right

People with disabilities face persistent obstacles in exercising their intimate, emotional, and sexual lives: inaccessible information, difficulties accessing common sexual health care, increased exposure to violence (disabled women experience sexual violence twice as often as others), professional practices and institutional environments that do not always take their choices and autonomy into account. This government plan reflects the presidential commitments of 2023 and is in line with the respect for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 16).

Operational contributions: enforceable national framework and field tools

The plan consolidates the role of Intimagir centres (present in all regions), generalises the Handigynéco approach to ESMS, mandates the compulsory integration of actions on intimate life and the fight against violence in establishment projects, makes regulatory texts enforceable, establishes systematic checks on the criminal records of medical-social professionals (2027-2028), provides for national protocols for supporting victims and perpetrators of violence, and strengthens the training of professionals in all relevant sectors.

2. KEY POINTS OF THE DOCUMENT

• Strengthen the Intimagir network: a national framework for shared information across all centres, accessible content distributed on monparcourshandicap.fr, annual regional days to pool resources and avoid redundancies (p. 5-7)

• Generalise Handigynéco: access to gynaecological care extended to all child and adult ESMS with needs assessment at home by 2027 (p. 8)

• Make regulatory texts enforceable: updating and binding nature of circulars related to intimate life in ESMS and the fight against sexual violence from 2026 (p. 13)

• Impose background checks: systematic verification for professionals working in ESMS (children by June 2027, adults before June 2028) and in personal services (p. 11)

• Create dedicated national protocols: two frameworks to support victims and perpetrators of sexual violence in situations of disability, developed with ESMS and relevant services (police, justice, health) in 2026 (p. 11)

3. ACTION PATHWAYS FOR LOCAL ACTORS

• Mandatory integration into the establishment projecta detailed presentation of actions on intimate life and the fight against gender-based and sexual violence, tailored to the age of the individuals supported (p. 13). Deadline: 2026.
• Use enhanced alternative communication tools (AAC)on intimate life and violence, relying on departmental AAC missions to adapt existing materials (p. 7). Deadline: 2026.
• Request regional Intimagir centresto organise annual days promoting inter-associative cooperation and resource sharing, and to obtain nationally validated training and tools (p. 6). Deadline: from 2026.
• Mobilise resources from the national resource and resilience centre (Cn2r)on psychotrauma in people with disabilities to improve support for victims (p. 11). Available from 2026.

4. Other references

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

5. CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS — VALUES OF HEALTH PRACTICES

Literacy: The document systematises the use of Easy-to-Read (FALC) in prevention and screening brochures and provides an overview of AAC tools to adapt information materials (p. 7-8).

Empowerment: The individuals concerned (particularly women) are involved in the co-construction of the plan and must be included in local victim support committees with specific training (p. 3, 11).

Participation: The plan results from collective work with disabled individuals, associations, ARS, professionals, experts, and administrations; the Intimagir centres promote networking and diversity of audiences (p. 3, 7).

Community Health: The regional days organised by Intimagir aim to promote inter-associative cooperation and the pooling of local resources (p. 6).

Ethics: The plan identifies institutional practices that do not take into account the choices, wishes, and autonomy of individuals, and provides for international benchmarking of practices in contraception and sterilisation (p. 2, 9).

Human Rights: The plan explicitly relies on the UN Convention (Article 16) guaranteeing the right to private life on an equal basis with others, without discrimination or violence (p. 2).

Intersectorality: Coordination with existing strategies (sexual health, child violence, the first 1,000 days) and mobilisation of police, justice, health, medico-social, ASE, education (p. 3, 11-14).

Partnership: Formalised collaboration between Intimagir centres, Handigynéco, CapParents, CRIAVS, Cn2r, Miprof, HAS, and ARS involvement in control and deployment (p. 6, 8-12).

Fight against discrimination: The plan acknowledges the increased exposure to violence (disabled women experience 2x more sexual violence), imposes non-judgment by clarifying the legal framework on contraception and sterilisation, and provides for the coverage of LGBTQIA+ needs (p. 6, 9-10).

Summary: This plan generally meets the criteria by imposing an enforceable framework, mobilising the expertise of those affected, and structuring an inter-ministerial response to discrimination and violence.

6. EVALUATION OF RESOURCE RELIABILITY

Scientific relevance: The document relies on robust data (Living Conditions and Security survey – DREES 2020 documenting overexposure to violence), respects international commitments (UN Convention), aligns with validated national strategies (sexual health 2017-2030), and plans for the production of consolidated data by DREES and the National Observatory of Violence Against Women by 2027. Inter-ministerial methodology involving HAS, user expertise, and evaluated systems (Intimagir, Handigynéco).

7. MCQ — 5 QUESTIONS FOR PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS

PART 1 — Presentation of the MCQ

Question 1: Which system will be generalised for disabled individuals supported by all ESMS for children and adults by 2027?

a) The Intimagir centres

b) The Handigynéco approach

c) The Traumatic Memory modules

d) The CAA missions

Question 2: According to the DREES 2020 survey, what percentage of women with disabilities report having experienced sexual violence?

a) 1.7%

b) 5.1%

c) 4%

d) 7.3%

Question 3: When will the background checks for professionals in children's ESMS be effective?

a) February 2026

b) June 2027

c) June 2028

d) 2030

Question 4: What new obligation will be imposed on the establishment projects of ESMS from 2026?

a) Create a violence reference position

b) Install spaces dedicated to privacy

c) Offer mandatory annual training

d) Mandatorily include a presentation of actions on intimate life and the fight against violence

Question 5: Which organisation will be mobilised to develop resources on psychotrauma in people with disabilities?

a) The High Authority of Health

b) The National Centre for Resources and Resilience (Cn2r)

c) The National Observatory of Violence Against Women

d) The Interministerial Mission Miprof

PART 2 — Commented correction

Question 1: Which system will be generalised for disabled individuals supported by all ESMS for children and adults by 2027?

✅ Correct answer: b) The Handigynéco approach

📝 Explanation: The plan aims to « generalise the Handigynéco approach for disabled individuals supported by all ESMS (children and adults) and assess additional needs at home » with a deadline of 2027. Handigynéco is a tailored gynaecological follow-up pathway led by voluntary independent midwives. —Source: p. 8

Question 2: According to the DREES 2020 survey, what percentage of women with disabilities report having experienced sexual violence?

✅ Correct answer: c) 4%

📝 Explanation: The Living Conditions and Security survey (DREES 2020) shows that « women with disabilities are twice as likely to have experienced sexual violence (4% compared to 1.7% of women without disabilities) ». This overexposure justifies the prevention and protection measures in the plan. —Source: p. 10

Question 3: When will the background checks for professionals in children's ESMS be effective?

✅ Correct answer: b) June 2027

📝 Explanation: The plan mandates the « fight against sexist and sexual violence by subjecting professionals in medico-social establishments to background checks » with implementation planned for children's ESMS by June 2027, and then adult ESMS before June 2028. This measure also applies to personal services. —Source: p. 11

Question 4: What new obligation will be imposed on the establishment projects of ESMS from 2026?

✅ Correct answer: d) To mandatorily include a presentation of actions on intimate life and the fight against violence.

📝 Explanation: The plan requires that "a detailed presentation of the actions envisaged by the manager regarding intimate, emotional, and sexual life, as well as the fight against gender-based and sexual violence, be mandatorily integrated into the establishment projects, taking into account the age of the individuals being supported." —Source: p. 13

Question 5: Which organisation will be mobilised to develop resources on psychotrauma in people with disabilities?

✅ Correct answer: b) The National Centre for Resources and Resilience (Cn2r)

📝 Explanation: Action 3.2 plans to "develop the resources of the National Centre for Resources and Resilience (Cn2r) on the theme of psychotrauma in individuals with disabilities." The Cn2r disseminates scientific knowledge and tools to strengthen professional practices and support for victims. —Source: p. 11-12

8. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What is an Intimagir centre and how can it be contacted?

The Intimagir resource centres are present in all regions of France (deployment ongoing overseas). They listen, inform, and guide disabled individuals, their relatives, and professionals on intimate, emotional, and sexual life, parenting, and gender-based and sexual violence. They organise annual regional days and offer validated training and tools. Contact via monparcourshandicap.fr or regional ARS. —Source: p. 5-6

2. How does Handigynéco function in practice?

Handigynéco is a tailored gynaecological follow-up programme where voluntary independent midwives intervene directly in medical-social establishments. They conduct long individual consultations for prevention, screening, gynaecological care, and run awareness workshops. The scheme will be rolled out to all ESMS (children and adults) by 2027, with needs assessment at home.Source: p. 8

3. What actions regarding intimate life must be included in the establishment project?

From 2026, ESMS establishment projects must mandatorily include a detailed presentation of actions regarding intimate, emotional, and sexual life AND the fight against gender-based and sexual violence. These actions must take into account the age of the individuals supported, including young adults welcomed in ESMS originally dedicated to children.Source: p. 13

4. Does the background check apply to all professionals?

Yes, the check will be systematic for professionals in ESMS (children by June 2027, adults before June 2028) and extended to personal services working with elderly, disabled, or individuals requiring personal assistance. It aims to prohibit practice for anyone convicted of a relevant crime or offence.Source: p. 11

5. What national protocols will be available to support victims and perpetrators of violence?

An expert mission will develop two national protocols in 2026: one to support disabled individuals who are victims of sexual violence, and another to support perpetrators with disabilities. These protocols, intended for ESMS, will be developed in conjunction with the police, gendarmerie, justice system, and health establishments. —Source: p. 11

6. How can information tools be made accessible to people without spoken language?

The plan includes an assessment with experts in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) of existing tools on intimate life and sexual violence, followed by collaboration with departmental AAC missions to adapt the materials. These departmental missions (instruction June 2025) will ensure network facilitation and support for individuals, families, and professionals. —Source: p. 7

7. How will the ARS verify the implementation of measures in establishments?

The inspection missions of the ARS will be equipped from 2026 to ensure the proper implementation of measures related to intimate, emotional, and sexual life and to combat gender-based and sexual violence. Regulatory texts will be updated and made enforceable, strengthening the binding nature of the control. —Source: p. 14

9. REWRITING IN EASY TO READ LANGUAGE

What is this document about?

This document explains the government's plan to help disabled individuals have a love life and intimate relationships. It also explains how to combat violence.

Why is this plan important?

Disabled individuals face difficulties:

• Accessing information about sexuality.

• Going to the doctor for sexual health

• Protecting against violence

Women with disabilities experience twice as much sexual violence as other women.

The government wants to change this.

The 4 main actions

Action 1 — Providing information

• The Intimagir centres provide information in all regions

• These centres help individuals, families, and professionals

• They organise meetings every year

• The website monparcourshandicap.fr provides easy-to-read information

Action 2 — Improving care

• Midwives come to the establishments

• They conduct gynaecological consultations

• They explain contraception

• They assist parents with disabilities

Action 3 — Protecting against violence

• The people who work in the establishments are checked

• It is verified that they have not committed any crimes or offences

• Protocols explain how to help victims

• Training is organised for professionals

Action 4 — Changing practices in the establishments

• Each establishment must write in its project how it supports intimate life

• Establishments must provide private spaces

• Rooms must allow for privacy

• Professionals receive training

Timeline

• 2026: The rules become mandatory

• 2026: Establishment projects are changing

• 2027: Background checks for professionals working with children

• 2028: Background checks for professionals working with adults