The “Rights of Persons with Developmental Disabilities”

1. The right to be treated at all times with courtesy and respect and with full recognition of their dignity and individuality;
2. 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;
3. The right to food adequate to meet accepted standards of nutrition;
4. The right to practice the religion of their choice or to abstain from the practice of religion;
5. The right to timely access to appropriate medical or dental treatment;
6. The right of access to necessary ancillary services including, but not limited to, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and behavior modifications and other psychological services;
7. The right to receive appropriate care and treatment in the least intrusive manner;
8. The right to privacy, including both periods of privacy and places of privacy;
9. The right to communicate freely with persons of their choice in any reasonable manner they choose;
10. The right to ownership and use of personal possessions so as to maintain individuality and personal dignity;
11. The right to social interaction with members of either sex;
12. The right of access to opportunities that enable individuals to develop their full human potential;
13. The right to pursue vocational opportunities that will promote and enhance economic independence;
14. The right to be treated equally as citizens under the law;
15. The right to be free from emotional, psychological, and physical abuse;
16. The right to participate in appropriate programs of education, training, social development, and habilitation and in programs of reasonable recreation;
17. The right to participate in decisions that affect their lives;
18. The right to select a parent or advocate to act on their behalf;
19. The right to manage their personal financial affairs; based on individual ability to do so;
20. The right to confidential treatment of all information in their personal and medical records;
21. The right to voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services without restraint,
22. The right to be free from unnecessary chemical or physical restraints;
23. The right to participate in the political process;
24. The right to refuse to participate in medical, psychological, or other research or experiments.

Contacts

Ohio Department of DD
30 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(866) 313- 6733
www.dodd.ohio.gov

Disability Rights Ohio
50 W. Broad St., Suite 1400
Columbus, OH  43215-5923
(614) 466-7264
(800) 282-9181
TTY (614) 728-2553
TTY (800) 858-3542
www.olrs.ohio.gov

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
PO Box 182825
Columbus, OH 43218-2825
(866) 635-3748
TTY (614) 728-2985
www.jfs.ohio.gov