The Bill of Rights for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

    • 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 be held down if you are not hurting yourself or others.

    • To vote and learn about laws and your community.

    • To say yes or no to being part of a study or experiment.