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Portrait of user...

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It is Friday afternoon.
I am meeting Mireille Barriat, a blind Filival client, to write a story about her, at the Hôpital des Quinze-Vingts, where her choir is rehearsing. I saw her as soon as I pushed the hospital gates open. She was there with Teddy, her stunning golden retriever. She has that irresistibly contagious joie de vivre. I felt at home with her straight away. She ushered me into the building and introduced me to Robert, the choirmaster (since 1989). He is also blind.

Singing in a busy choir

Robert told me a little bit about how the choir "Loisirs et Rencontres" (French for “time out and getting to know people) had come together, and about the singers and repertoire (which encompasses renaissance, folklore, classic, romantic and pop music). Then he told me about the concerts they perform at. He was enthusiastic “We sang at a comprehensive handicap association, "Cœurs en Chœurs", on 6 May. We also sang in Neuilly-sur-Marne, a town outside Paris, on 24 November. But the big gig is coming up: we are working on a concert in Denmark in two years’ time!” Then I met Gilbert, Gisèle and Bernard. They are also blind, to different degrees. Because blind, partially-sighted and sighted singers are welcome to join this choir.

Filival from its users’ angle

Everybody had something to say about the choir. Then I ventured on to ask them about transport for disabled people in and around Paris. They were unanimous. Services such as the ones Filival provides are extremely useful. But there just aren’t enough of them. Robert and Gilbert agree, “Filival is an example: not many transport companies running services for limited-mobility passengers cover such a large area at such an affordable cost”. Bernard added, “And the staff are competent and friendly.” The only hitch they see is that Filival could end up a victim of its success. “You need more vehicles and more people.” In Gisèle’s and Mireille’s words, “We can see demand is on the up and worrying when you might get saturated.” Just as Robert congregated the hushing choir for the rehearsal that was about to start. I sat on a chair in the corner watching and enjoying nearly two hours of well-known and well-worth-knowing French and English tunes.

Loyal and lively patrons

I was still aware I was there to write about Mireille’s story at the end of the rehearsal. So off I slipped through the crowd and started talking to her again. “I used to use Serval, the company that was there before Filival. I used them when FlexCité took over too. I have to say that the quality of the service has improved. And the drivers are really nice.” I asked her why she used Filival (blind people can use regular public transport, after all). “I don’t like public transport too much because my dog and I often get knocked about. And a few people get annoyed and let us know about it. I prefer Filival. It keeps me independent without the downsides”. Mireille was not born blind: “My form of blindness is hereditary: your eyesight deteriorates with time. I was a nurse, but had to give up when my eyesight just wasn’t up to it any more. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit at home doing nothing.” One thing led to another and I found out that Mireille also works at the guide-dog training school in rue Saint-Maurice, in Paris. I had fallen in love with handsome Teddy by then. We greed to meet there the following week.

Working in a training school for guide dogs

It was grey and raining that Tuesday morning. Until Mireille turned up. “I had a female called Lova before. But she was operated on and pensioned off. Teddy’s owner couldn’t take care of him any more. And we met at school! I saw they were short-staffed the minute I came here. So I volunteered to help. Filival brings me here every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday morning. I walk, bathe and feed the dogs. I don’t train them, though. I’m not qualified to do that.” I spent the following two hours watching her fussing over her canine crowd. I don’t have any experience with that sort of thing, so I figured it made more sense to keep out of her way and watch. But Mireille was so enthusiastic I just had to join in. And, whistle in hand, we set off to walk a tumultuous twosome in the forest.

I was exhausted and exhilarated when the morning drew to an end and it was time to leave Mireille. I was thrilled I had met such a generous person. In every sense of the word.

By Adeline Laurier