Your Rights

(adapted from the Ohio Revised Code)
As a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability in the state of Ohio, you have these rights…

1. To be treated well and as an individual at all times.
2. To a safe, clean home
3. To meals that are healthful and good for me
4. To go to the church of my choice or not to go to church at all
5. To go to a doctor or dentist as soon as I need to go
6. To get the assistance and training that I want
7. To get care and treatment in the least intrusive way
8. To have time and a place to be alone or with family and friends
9. To use the telephone, write letters, or talk with anyone about any subject I want to discuss in a reasonable way
10. To keep possession of my own that I choose to have
11. To socialize and be friends with both men and women
12. To join in activities or do things to assist me in becoming the best person I can be
13. To have a job and earn money
14. To be treated like everyone else under the law
15. To not be hit, hurt, yelled at, or have terrible things said about me
16. To training, work, social activities, and recreation
17. To help decide the things that will affect me
18. To ask my parents, my family, an advocate, or a friend to speak for me and help me do things
19. To manage and spend my own money based on my ability to do so
20. To have information about me kept private
21. To talk about complaints and changes without being threatened by others
22. To not be tied up, held down,locked up, or given medications to control me unless it is needed to keep me from hurting myself or others
23. To vote for the people who make laws and to tell them how I feel about the laws
24. To not be part of any study or experiment unless I say it's okay.

If you have questions about your rights, you can call:

Ohio Legal Rights Services

State-wide, toll-free intake service
1-800-282-9181

or the Ohio Department of MR/DD
1-800-231-5872

Last Updated: 11/3/2009 4:56:00 PM