Bill of Rights for People with Developmental Disabilities
• The rights of people with developmental disabilities were written into Ohio law in 2000.
• Twenty-four rights are listed.
• One of your main responsibilities is knowing and understanding the rights of people with developmental disabilities.
People with developmental disabilities have the right:
• To be treated at all times with courtesy and respect and with full recognition of their dignity and individuality.
• To an appropriate, safe, and sanitary living environment that complies with local, state, and federal standards and recognizes the person’s need for privacy and independence.
• To food adequate to meet accepted standards of nutrition.
• To be always treated with courtesy and respect and with full recognition of their dignity and individuality.
• To an appropriate, safe, and sanitary living environment that complies with local, state, and federal standards and recognizes the person’s need for privacy and independence.
• To food adequate to meet accepted standards of nutrition.
• To privacy, including both periods of privacy and places of privacy.
• To communicate freely with persons of their choice in any reasonable manner they choose.
• To ownership and use of personal possessions.
• To social interactions with members of either sex.
• To access to opportunities that enable people to develop their full human potential.
• To pursue vocational opportunities that will promote and enhance economic independence.
• To be treated equally as citizens under the law.
• To be free from emotional, psychological, and physical abuse.
• To participate in appropriate programs of education, training, social development, and habilitation.
• To participate in decisions that affect their lives.
• To select a parent or advocate to act on their behalf.
• To manage their personal affairs financial affairs, based on individual ability to do so.
• To confidential treatment of all information in their personal and medical records.
• To voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services without restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal.
• To be free from unnecessary chemical or physical restraints.
• To participate in the political process.
• To refuse to participate in medical, psychological, or other research or experiments.