,

YOUand

YOUR RIGHTSAn illustrated guide to your rights as

a consumer of human services.

Lynne Tucholke-Shorter & Cheryl Laaker

<1:1 ISL TRA.lNING sYSTEMS 1997 AU.. RIGHTS RESERVED Plate M.C 1 (800) 676-ll799

This book is about youand your rights

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In this book

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This man is you

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What are "RIGHTS"?

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The government says that you have certain rights.

Rights are like laws or rules that you have.

Rights tell people what you can do.Some rights tell people what you do not have to do.

Some rights tell certain people what they must do for you.Other rights tell people What they can not do to you.

People have to do what these rules sayeven if you do not tell them to.

If people break these rules the government cantell them to do what they should be doing,

or to stop doing something to you.

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YOUand

YOUR RIGHTS

Youshould have the same choices and opportunities that we all have.Like choosing where you want to live, whom you want to five with,where you want to work, and what you want to do for fun.

You need to know your rights. Every person should be treatedfairly. This book is like a list of how people should treat you. Thisbook may help you understand some of your rights.

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You have the right to be informed aboutwhat your rights are.

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Staff or family should explain to you what your rights are.'

You rights might be explained to you in a meetingwith many people there. You might meet with onlyone person to have your rights explained.

?•.,~----"---If you have questions about your rights youcan ask staff, family.. or someone else thatyou trust to help answer your questions.

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You have the right to be free fromphysical or psychological abuse or neglect.

For example:

, ,No one should: hit, slap, kick, ortouch you in any way that youdo not like.

No one should call you namesor say things to scare you.

No one should ignore you or forget to do things you needto have done. Like take your medications or take you todoctor appointments jf you need help getting there.

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You have the right to control your own financialresources and to be free from financial exploitation.

For example:

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No one should teH you how you must use your money. Ifyou have enough money and you want to buy something,staff or family should help you find- a way to get it.

8taff and family may help you remember topay your bills or buy medications, food, etc.

Staff should NEVER ask you formoney for their own personal use!

You have the right to receive gifts, purchase,have and use your own personal property.

For example:

If you want to buy something, you can.

If someone wants to give you a gift, you can have it.

No one can take away anything that belongs to you orstop you from using something that is yours. This meansboth small things like a TV or radio and could be as big asa house that you save for and buy for yourself.

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You have the right to active and meaningfulparticipation in decisions affecting your life.

------ For example:

If there is a meeting about you, you should be there.You should invite the people that you want to come.

You need to tell your service coordinator, otherstaff or family what you want to do with your life.

Staff and family need to LISTENto you, and to help you get whatyou want in your life

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You have the right to privacy.

------ For example:

--Staff or family should not talk aboutyou without your knowing about it.

No one has the right to mess with your stuff.

When you need or want time alone, you should have it.Sometimes you need to tell staff I family that you need this time.You also need to remember that other people need to have theirstuff left alone, and that they may need time alone also.

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You have the right to receive visitors and tochoose, communicate, associate and meet

privately with your family and friends.

------ For example:

You can have family or friends come to your house, and youcan have time alone with them if you want it. If you live athome you need to talk this over.with your family.

You can talk on the telephone without anyone listening to you.

You have the right to pick your friends.

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You have the right to practice thereligion or faith of your choice.

For example:

You can go to any church, synagogue, or temple that you want to.You can believe anything that you want to. Staff should not saythat you must go to church, or that you should not go to church.

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You have the right to be free from chemicalrestraint, or having restrictive procedures utilized

without your informed consent.

------ For example:

Staff or family can not make you take medications unless youunderstand why you are taking them, and the side effects (otherthings) that can happen to you. For example; some medicationsmay make you sleepy, dizzy, very thirsty or feel funny. You needto know about these side effects so you know what is going on withyour body. Your family and staff will help you remember why youare taking your medications to help you stay healthy.

If you choose not to take your medications, family I staff can nottake your stuff away or stop you from doing things you want to do.They can not make you stay in your room or stay away from otherpeople. Staff and family can not tell you that until you take,yourmedication you can't do something, like going out to eat.

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You have the right to be paid forwork outside of your home.

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You need to keep the home you live in clean. Thisis your home and you are responsible for keepingit clean and nice looking.

+ --If you work at the workshops or a job in town you areto be paid for the work that you do. The amount youare paid will depend on the job that you do.

If you are doing something for a friend, you and yourfriend can agree on the amount and kind of pay youwill get for the job. Sometimes we do jobs for ourfriends and get paid with things other than money,like dinner out or going to a movie, or sometimes theperson will do some job for (like a trade).

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You have the right to be treated withdignity and respect.

For example:

Your family and staff should be nice to you. Theyshould not embarrass you in front of your friends.

--Your family and staff should not make you feel dumb orstupid. They should help you get what you want.

They should treat you theway they want to be treated.

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You have the right to due process.

------ For example:

If your family and/or staff are notlistening to you or are -stopping youfrom doing something you need orwant, you need to ask someone tohelp you.

At all the staff should help you. But ifyou have a service coordinator youcan talk to them alone.

You have the right to talk to a personwho is not part of the problem.

You have a right to get an answer tothe problem. It may not be the answeryou want, but it will be fair.

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Guardians

Sometimes a judge will name another.person to help protectyou and your rights. This person is called your guardian.

Your guardian may talk to your staff or doctors or othersabout you. You can be at these meetings. But even jf youare not there, your guardian will work to protect your rights.

Your guardian will talk with you and tell your staff and others whatyou decided. They must listen just like you said 1t yourself.

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You have the right to be free from chemicalrestraint, or having restrictive procedures utilized

without your informed consent.

For example:

Staff/family can not make you take medications unless youunderstand why you take them. At the same time they help yousome medications have side effects, they may make you sleepy,dizzy, thirsty or feel funny. Knowing about side effects helps youknow what is going on in your body. Family/staff will help youremember that you take medications to help you stay healthy.Physical restraint (like being held still) needs a special rule.

If you choose not to take your medications, family/staff can nottake your stuff away or stop you from doing things you want to do.They can not make you stay in your rooni or stay away from otherpeople. Staff and family can not tell you that until you take yourmedication you can't do something, like going out to eat.

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This book is about youand your rights

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