An Introduction

To help you to know about your rights we have included some of them in this handbook. If you have any questions your Support Worker can help you.

You Have Rights:

• As a person participating in our programs and services
• As a Canadian
• As a person with disabilities

We will go through these rights with you when you start receiving services from us. Anytime you want, we can go over these rights again. Also, all of our employees know about your rights.

What is an Advocate?

An advocate is a person who helps you make your wishes known to other people. You may want an advocate because you feel too shy to speak or if you feel that someone is either not listening to your concerns or they do not understand what you are trying to tell them. An advocate can be a family member, other relative, a friend, or you can ask a PAACL Worker to be an advocate for you.

Informed Choices and Decisions

All people have the right to make decisions and choices. We know that sometimes people might need some help to make choices.

You have the right to speak for yourself and we think that it is important that you make as many of your own choices and decisions as possible.

Some Ways That We Help You Make Decisions

We Give You Information and Options

Before you make a choice we will give you as much information as you need to make what is called an informed choice, and we will support you to try other options (different things that are available to you).

It's Okay If You Change Your Mind

We know that sometimes people change their minds when they are exploring options. We also know that is all part of learning to make choices and decisions. If you make a choice and it doesn't work out that is okay. We will support you to explore another choice.

Support to Ask For Help

Some people may want someone who knows them well to help them make choices. If you want some help, then you can ask someone who knows you well to help you to make choices.

We Help You to Look at Risks

Sometimes you might make a choice that presents a possible risk to your health or your safety. If so, we will look at that risk with you and help you understand what might happen if you still make that choice. We will also ask other people who know you well to look at the risk and provide input. Then you will have to make a decision about what to do about that risk.

Your Rights As A Person Receiving Services

Respect for the Individual

This principle says that your rights and dignity must be respected. Anyone who provides you with service is required to meet your needs and support your unique strengths and qualities, within program guidelines.

Self Determination

This principle talks about your right to control your life and to take responsibility for your actions. It reminds all of us to provide you with opportunities to act on you own behalf and wherever possible to participate in the decisions that affect you.

Individual Service Planning and Family Involvement

This principle says that you are to be provided the opportunity to participate in the planning of your services. It also says that if you want, you can have your family and/or other's who know you well be involved in planning services for you.

Maximizing Independence, Growth and Environmental Choices

This principle says that you need to be provided with opportunities to become as independent as you can. It encourages us to provide you with as much freedom as possible and at the same time to ensure that you feel safe and secure.

Community Inclusion and Use of Community Services

This principle guides us to support you to be included in the day-to-day life of your community. We do this by helping you access community services that are available to anyone and to help you get together with other services in the community so that you receive the best support available.

Quality of Life

This principle guides us to help you enhance your quality of life in the following areas:

• Health and safety

• Participation in your community

• Good relationships with friends and relatives

• Making choices

• Daily activities that help you pursue your goals

• Recognition of your value

Conflict Resolution

This principle encourages all of us to communicate with each other and to resolve a disagreement if ever there is conflict between you and your family, CLBC employees, or us.

Your Right To Privacy

Privacy means that information about you is confidential. Before you give information to someone you can ask if they can keep something "confidential." That means that what you say is private, and won't be told to anyone else. All PAACL employees must sign an oath of confidentiality which means that they must keep your information confidential.

Privacy and Information About You

We will ask you and your family or caregiver to give us information about you in order to provide you with the best possible care and service. We keep that information so that people who support you know what you like and what you need. This information includes: health care information, planning information, daily notes, incident reports, and other reports from people in your support network.

Sharing Information

The Worker that supports you needs to know information about you so that they can do a good job. They will read your Participant Binder and your files. Before we share any of your information with anyone outside of the program, we will ask you to sign a consent form. If we would like to use your photograph for the newsletter, website or if we want to write an article about you, we will ask you to sign a form saying you agree to let PAACL do that.

Can You Look at the Information?

Yes - you can look at the information about you at any time. Ask your support Worker and they will go through your binder or your file with you.

Where Do We Keep Information About You?

We keep information about you in your *Participant Binder* and Personal File in a locked storage place. Only the Workers who need to know about you can get into the storage places. We also keep some information about you on computers. Again, only the Employee's that need to know about you have access to the computer.

What Cannot Be Kept Confidential

There are some things that cannot be confidential. For example, if you or someone else has been harmed or is in danger of harm we may have to tell your facilitator (before they were called social workers) or the police. Or, if the law requires us to report something we may not be able to keep it confidential.

Privacy Also Means

• That you have the right to be alone, if you so choose.

• That people should ask if it is okay with you before they come into your private space.

• That people should not look at, touch or take your private things without your permission.

Your Rights As a Person Living in Canada

In 1982 the government of Canada told all Canadians about their rights in a document called Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Some of your rights included in this Charter are:

• The right to be treated fairly and equally regardless of your race, sex or age, or whether you have a physical or developmental disability

• The right to choose your religion

• The right to your own thoughts and the right to talk about your thoughts

• The right to gather with other people

• The right to vote

• The right to stay in Canada or to leave

• The right to learn.

The Charter also tells you that if anyone doesn't allow you your rights, then you can ask people to help you make sure that your rights are respected.

Your Rights As A Person Living In BC

In BC there is something called The BC Human Rights Code. It says that you cannot be discriminated against because you have a physical or developmental disability. The code says you have the right to:

• Access the same services as everyone else including restaurants, malls, buses, and schools

• Get hired and get the same wages as everyone else if you do the same work

• If you rent an apartment or a house be treated the same as all the other tenants.

What can you do if you think you have been discriminated against because of your disability?

• Talk to us, we can help you to take some next steps

• If you are working, talk to your job coach. The two of you can find out if your employer has a complaints procedure.

Your Rights to Other Kinds of Assistance Here in BC

The New Community Living Services (CLBC)

On July 1, 2005, the Ministry for Children and Family Development turned over their ministry responsibility for adults with developmental disabilities to Community Living BC.

For more information you can look on their website or, you can ask a support person or family member to do this for you: www.communitylivingbc.ca.

Some of the services you might be eligible for include:

• Services from a Facilitator (formerly called Social Workers)

• Services including nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy

• Mental Health Services and/or an assessment from Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) or Developmental Disability Mental Health Team (DDMHT)

• Various forms of funding

• Referrals to specific programs (e.g. residential, supported employment, respite, counseling, day programs).

Persons with disabilities who are 18 years or older in BC have the right to benefits and services.

Persons with Disability Pension (Formally called "Disability Benefits 2")

Depending on your needs and your income, you are likely eligible for:

• A monthly support allowance

• Medical coverage, including Medical Services Plan and Pharmacare coverage, as well as other medical benefits such as glasses or dental care

• An annual bus pass.

Your CLBC Financial Analyst can tell you more about your Disability Pension. The CLBC office is listed in the back of this book under "Resources." You can also check the website for "Office for Disability Issues" at www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/pwd.htm to get disability benefits information.