Your Life, Your Rights Program

DD Bill of Rights are the rights you have when it comes to your DD Services.

Human Rights 

All people with disabilities have the same rights as anyone else. These rights are known as human rights. Human rights include: 

• Freedom to be yourself and make decisions.
• Not be treated unfairly because of who you are.
• Live a safe, meaningful, and free life.
• Be treated with dignity and respect.

DD Services Bill of Rights

People who get developmental disability (DD) services have additional rights when it comes to their DD services. These additional rights are called the DD Services Bill of Rights. The DD Services Bill of Rights make sure people are treated well and get the help they want so they can live the life they choose. The DD Services Bill of Rights are: 

1. You plan your life and pick your services and providers.
2. You understand your services and can ask questions at anytime.
3. You can let your provider or DDD know if you are unhappy with your services.
4. You are protected from abuse and mistreatment.
5. Your privacy is protected.
6. You can get your record at anytime.
7. You live in a safe and comfortable home.
8. You can take risks and make mistakes.
9. You wear clothing, own items, and eat food you want.
10. You can have relationships and people can visit you.
11. You will have safety plans that have the least restrictions.
12. You are involved in your community and choose the activities you do.

Resources 

To learn more about the DD Services Bill of Rights, review these resources: 

1. DD Services Bill of Rights Flyer PDF (or PowerPoint)
2. DD Services Bill of Rights Easy Read Guidebook PDF (or PowerPoint)
3. DD Bill of Rights Training Slides (PDF)

Right Protection 

Visit the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights website for more information on protecting your rights. 

Safety Rights are about your rights to be treated well and feel safe.

Everyone deserves to be treated well and feel safe. People have rights to safety and freedom in life that include: 

1. Personal Space and Boundaries
2. Safety in the Community
3. Health and Medical Safety
4. Freedom from Abuse

Personal Space and Boundaries

A person's rights to personal space and boundaries are: 

1. You can take breaks when needed to relax
2. You decide when you need help and from who
3. You have safe places you can go
4. You have people you trust to talk to

Safety in the Community

A person's rights to safety in the community are: 

1. You can ask for space when you need it
2. Your personal boundaries will be respected
3. You will have information about travelling safely
4. You will have information about safe places to go to for help

Health and Medical Safety

A person's rights to health and medical safety are: 

1. You can make decisions about your health
2. You can make an appointment with your doctor when you need to
3. You can talk to your doctor about starting or stopping treatment
4. You can go to the emergency room for serious injuries

Freedom from Abuse

A person's rights to freedom from abuse are: 

1. You will not be harmed physically
2. You will not be harmed sexually
3. You will not be harmed verbally
4. You will not be taken advantage of
5. You will be treated with dignity and respect
6. You will get the correct treatment you need
7. You will get help living a safe and healthy life

To report abuse and serious events call the BHDDH Quality Assurance (QA) Unit hotline at (401) 462-2629. The hotline is open 24-hours a day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.

Resources

To learn more about Rights to Safety and Freedom in Life, review these resources

1. Safety and Freedom in Life Flyer PDF (or PowerPoint)
2. Safety and Freedom in Life Easy Read Guidebook PDF (or PowerPoint)
3. Safety Rights Training Slides (PDF)

Fair Treatment Rights come from laws that make sure you get treated fairly and can be happy.

Everyone has the right to fair treatment. This includes having the same access to opportunities and chance at happiness. People should never mistreat or excluded others. This is your right to antidiscrimination. 

Antidiscrimination is treating all people fairly no matter who they are. This is equal treatment no matter what. Antidiscrimination is the opposite of discrimination. 

Discrimination is treating people different because of who they are. The different treatment is often bad. Discrimination is against the law.

Rights to Fair Treatment

It is against the law for people to discriminate against you based on your:

1. Race: the color of your skin and your facial features.
2. Religion: what you believe in, worship, and practice.
3. National Origin: the country you were born in or your accent and looks.
4. Age: if you are age 40 or older.
5. Disability: your physical health, mental health, or both.
6. Sex: your gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or if you are pregnant.

Resources

To learn more about Fair Treatment Rights, review these resources

1. Right to Antidiscrimination Flyer (PDF)
2. Right to Antidiscrimination Guidebook (PDF)
3. Fair Treatment Rights (Anti-discrimination) Training Slides (PDF)

Right Protection 

To report discrimination, contact the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights by phone at (401) 222-2661 or by visiting their website at www.richr.ri.gov. 

Healthcare Rights are about your rights to physical and mental health care.

Everyone has the right to healthcare. This includes physical health and mental health services. 

Rights to Healthcare

1. Be treated with dignity and respect
2. Have free access to an interpreter
3. Have the same treatment options as everyone else
4. Have the same access to healthcare as everyone else
5. Make an appointment with your doctor when you need to
6. Talk to your doctor about starting or stopping treatment
7. Make decisions about your health
8. Get health education to help you make choices
9. Get emergency care when you need it even if you can’t pay
10. To have your personal health record kept private
11. You decide who can have access to your health information
12. You can get your medical records at anytime 

Resources

To learn more about Healthcare Rights, review these resources:

1. Your Life, Your Rights Healthcare Flyer (PDF)
2. Your Life, Your Rights: Healthcare Easy Read Guidebook (PDF)
3. Healthcare Rights Training Slides (PDF)

Right Protection

Contact the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office to file a healthcare complaint by phone at (401) 274-4400 x1896 or online at www.riag.ri.gov/ 

Relationship Rights are about your rights to start, end, and be treated well in relationships.

Everyone has the right to have relationships. Relationships can be with family, friends, dating partners, and more. Relationship rights include: 

1. Have different types of relationships
2. Start new relationships
3. End relationships at any time
4. Be treated with dignity and respect
5. Not be abused or hurt in relationships
6. Have privacy when you want it
7. Say “no” to things you don’t want to do
8. Do things you want to do
9. Share your thoughts and interests
10. Have romantic relationships and date
11. Marry the person you love
12. Become a parent to a child or pet

Resources

To learn more about Relationship Rights, review these resources: 

1. Your Life, Your Rights Relationships Flyer (PDF)
2. Your Life, Your Rights Relationships Easy Read Guidebook (PDF)
3. Relationship Rights Training Slides (PDF)

Disability Rights come from laws that protect you as a person with a disability.

Did you know it is against the law for people to treat others different because they have a disability? There are many laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities. Read the list below to learn about your disability rights.

1. Make decisions about your life
2. Have a personal life and relationships
3. Have a job if you want one
4. Vote in elections
5. Use public travel like buses and taxis
6. Join community events and activities
7. Join government programs
8. Have access to information
9. Live in safe, comfortable housing you choose
10. Communicate with others in ways that work best for you
11. Stroll down streets and enter buildings with ease
12. Go to college and training programs to keep learning

Resources

To learn more about Disability Rights, review these resources: 

1. Your Life, Your Rights Disability Rights Flyer (PDF).
2. Your Life, Your Rights Disability Rights Easy Read Guidebook (PDF)

Housing Rights are about your right to fair, safe housing if you rent or own.

Everyone has the right to fair housing. This is true no matter if they rent or own an apartment, home, or room. Housing rights include: 

1. Equal opportunity to rent or buy a home you choose
2. Have the same house rules and benefits as other people
3. Live with a support animal or other person
4. Feel safe in your home and have privacy
5. Get home repairs when needed for safer and easier living
6. Be given 30-day notice if you must move out

Resources

To learn more about Housing Rights, review these resources: 

1. Your Life, Your Rights Housing Rights Flyer (PDF)
2. Your Life, Your Rights Housing Rights Easy Read Guidebook (PDF)

Voting Rights come from laws that protect your right to vote.

Everyone has the right to vote. To vote in the United States of America (USA), you must be:

• A USA citizen
• At least age 18
• A resident in your State
• Registered to vote in your state

Voting Rights

1. Vote for the person you want to vote for
2. Vote by mail instead of in person
3. Vote in person before Election Day
4. Get voting info in another language
5. Bring someone with you to help you vote
6. Be able to get in and out of voting places
7. Have voting options that meet your needs
8. Not be bullied or pressured to vote
9. Vote if you are not found on the list

Resources

To learn more about Voting Rights, review these resources: 

1. Your Life, Your Rights Voting Rights Flyer (PDF)
2. Your Life, Your Rights Voting Rights Easy Read Guidebook (PDF) 

Right Protection 

Visit the State of Rhode Island Board of Elections for voting information and help. 

Employment Rights are about your right to feel safe and be treated well at work.

Everyone has the right to choose their job, feel safe at work, and be treated well. This is true for all workers, including workers who:

• Have a disability
• Are of any race, ethnicity, or gender
• Are part of the LGBTQ+ Community
• Are veterans
• Are migrant workers

Employment Rights

1. Fair treatment no matter who you are
2. Earn the same money as others doing the same work
3. Make changes to the job to help you succeed
4. Have access to info about your rights
5. Keep some info about yourself private
6. Take time out of work when needed
7. Work in a safe place where you will not get hurt or sick
8. Join with coworkers to make the workplace better
9. Report broken rights and not get in trouble

Resources

To learn more about Employment Rights, review these resources: 

1. Your Life, Your Rights Employment Rights Flyer (PDF)
2. Your Life, Your Rights: Employment Rights Easy Read Guidebook (PDF)

Right Protection

To report violated rights, call the U.S. Department of Labor by phone at 1-866-487-2365. There is help in over 200 languages.

There are laws that protect you when the police stop you.

Every person living in America has rights. This is true no matter if the person is a citizen or not. Some of these rights protect people when they work with law enforcement, including police. Your rights when you are stopped by police include:

1. Get info in ways you understand and can use.
2. Be given accommodations if you need them.
3. Stay quiet even if you are asked questions.
4. Say no to having yourself or your things searched.
5. Get a lawyer even if you can not afford one.
6. Not sign anything without your lawyer there.
7. Record the meeting you have with the officer.
8. Make a phone call if you are arrested.
9. File a complaint for broken rights and bad treatment.

Resources

To learn more about Rights when you stopped by police, review these resources: 

• Your Life, Your Rights: Being Stopped by the Police Flyer (PDF)
• Your Life, Your Rights: Being Stopped by the Police Easy Read Guidebook (PDF)