Bill of Rights

The rights of persons with developmental disabilities include, but are not limited to:

A. The right to be treated at all times with courtesy and respect and with full recognition of their dignity and individuality;

B. The right to an appropriate, safe, and sanitary living environment that complies with local, state, and federal standards and recognizes the persons’ need for privacy and independence;

C. The right to food adequate to meet accepted standards of nutrition;

D. The right to practice the religion of their choice or to abstain from the practice of religion;

E. The right of timely access to appropriate medical or dental treatment;

F. The right of access to necessary ancillary services including, but not limited to, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and behavior modification or other psychological services;

G. The right to receive appropriate care

 and treatment in the least intrusive manner;

H. The right to privacy, including both periods of privacy and places of privacy;

I. The right to communicate freely with persons of their choice in any reasonable manner they choose;

J. The right to ownership and use of personal possessions so as to maintain individuality and personal dignity;

K. The right to social interaction with members of either sex;

L. The right to access opportunities that enable individuals to develop their full human potential;

M. The right to pursue vocational opportunities that will promote and enhance economic independence;

N. The right to be treated equally as citizens under the law;

O. The right to be free from emotional, psychological, and physical abuse;

P. The right to participate in appropriate programs of education, training, social development and habilitation and in programs of reasonable recreation;

Q. The right to participate in decisions that affect their lives;

R. The right to select a parent or advocate to act in their behalf;

S. The right to manage their personal financial affairs, based on individual ability to do so;

T. The right to confidential treatment of all information in their personal and medical records;

U. The right to voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services without restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal;

V. The right to be free from unnecessary chemical or physical restraints;

W. The right to participate in the political process; and

X. The right to refuse to participate in medical, psychological, or other research or experiments.