Public Services: Adapted reception guaranteed for deaf and hard-of-hearing people

Decree No. 2026-838 of September 2, 2026, published in JORF No. 0205 of September 3, 2026, requires public services to provide an adapted reception system for deaf or hard-of-hearing people. Signed under NOR SFHA2621010D, this text originates from the Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy, and People with Disabilities. It comes into force on the first day of the sixth month following its publication, i.e., early March 2027.

A Right to Simultaneous Translation

The decree implements Article 78 of the law of February 11, 2005, which guarantees equal access to public services. In their dealings with these services, deaf or hard-of-hearing people are entitled, upon request, to an adapted reception system allowing for the simultaneous written and visual translation of any oral or sound information concerning them.

The system must be adapted to the person’s particular situation, the purpose, and the duration of the exchange. Where applicable, it is determined in coordination with the individual. When no adapted system is immediately available, the person in charge of a public service mission must organize, within a reasonable timeframe, the modalities allowing for an exchange under adapted conditions.

The Five Planned Reception Modalities

The text lists the systems that can be mobilized to guarantee this reception:

• instant written transcription;
• the use of a French Sign Language interpreter, in person or via video-interpretation;
• the use of a coder in complemented spoken French, in person or via video-coding;
• exchange with an agent proficient in French Sign Language;
• any other means allowing the user to access equivalent functionalities.

Confidentiality and Execution

The decree specifies that the adapted system guarantees the confidentiality of translated or transcribed conversations, an essential requirement for sensitive procedures with administrations. The implementation of the text is entrusted to the Minister of Health, Families, Autonomy, and People with Disabilities, the Minister of Territorial Planning and Decentralization, and the Minister of Action and Public Accounts, each as far as they are concerned.

A Step Forward for Equal Access

This decree concretely reflects the State’s commitment to the accessibility of public services. By offering deaf or hard-of-hearing people a choice of exchange modalities, it guarantees them real autonomy in their administrative procedures, whether occasional or recurring. Administrations now have a clear framework to organize this reception, with a six-month deadline to achieve compliance.

Official Source: Official Journal of the French Republic, No. 0205 of September 3, 2026 — Decree No. 2026-838 of September 2, 2026 relating to the accessibility procedures for reception in public services for deaf or hard-of-hearing persons (NOR SFHA2621010D, JORFTEXT000054791173).