Your Rights
Ohio Revised Code Section 5123.62: Bill of Rights
The rights of individuals with developmental disabilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Bill of Rights: Ohio Revised Code Section 5123.62:
- The right to be treated at all times with courtesy and respect and with full recognition of their dignity and individuality;
- 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;
- The right to food adequate to meet accepted standards of nutrition;
- The right to practice the religion of their choice or to abstain from the practice of religion;
- The right of timely access to appropriate medical or dental treatment;
- The right of access to necessary ancillary services including, but not limited to, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and behavior modification and other psychological services;
- The right to receive appropriate care and treatment in the least intrusive manner;
- The right to privacy, including both periods of privacy and places of privacy;
- The right to communicate freely with persons of their choice in any reasonable manner they choose;
- The right to ownership and use of personal possessions so as to maintain individuality and personal dignity;
- The right to social interaction with members of either sex;
- The right of access to opportunities that enable individuals to develop their full human potential;
- The right to pursue vocational opportunities that will promote and enhance economic independence;
- The right to be treated equally as citizens under the law;
- The right to be free from emotional, psychological, and physical abuse;
- The right to participate in appropriate programs of education, training, social development, and habilitation and in programs of reasonable recreation;
- The right to participate in decisions that affect their lives;
- The right to select a parent or advocate to act on their behalf;
- The right to manage their personal financial affairs, based on individual ability to do so;
- The right to confidential treatment of all information in their personal and medical records, except to the extent that disclosure or release of records is permitted under sections 5123.89 and 5126.044 of the Revised Code;
- The right to voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services without restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal;
- The right to be free from unnecessary chemical or physical restraints;
- The right to participate in the political process;
- The right to refuse to participate in medical, psychological, or other research or experiments.
- If you have questions or concerns about the rights of an individual you may call “Ohio Legal Rights Services” state-wide toll-free number at 1-800-282-9181.
Bill of Rights: Simplified Version: You have the right to:
- Be treated nicely at all times and as a person.
- Have a clean safe place to live in and a place to be alone.
- Have food that is good for you.
- Be able to go, if you want, to any church, temple, mosque.
- Be able to go to a doctor or dentist when you are sick.
- Be able to have people help you with the way you walk, talk, do things with your hands, act or feel, if you need it.
- Be able to have people help and teach you, if you want.
- Be able to have time and a place to go to be by yourself.
- Be able to call, write letters or talk to anyone you want about anything you want.
- Be able to have your own things and be able to use them.
- Be able to have men and women as friends.
- Be able to join in activities and do things that will help you grow to be the best person you can be.
- Be able to work and make money.
- Be treated like everyone else.
- Not be hit, yelled at, cursed at, or called names that hurt you.
- Be able to learn new things, make friends, have activities to do, and go out in your community.
- Be able to tell people what you want and be part of making plans or decisions about your life.
- Be able to ask someone you want to help you, let others know how you feel or what you want.
- Be able to use your money to pay for things you need and want with help, if you need it..
- Be able to say yes or no before people talk about what you do at work or home or look at your file.
- Be able to complain or ask for changes if you don’t like something without being afraid of getting in trouble.
- Not be given medicine that you don’t need or held down if you are not hurting yourself or others.
- Vote and learn about laws and your community.
- Say yes or no to being part of a study or experiment.