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Know Your Rights

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In the past many people with disabilities were institutionalized because they were thought as outcasts in a society mainly because people were misinformed, uneducated and ignorant of people with disabilities.

Independence is very important in many ways to all people and especially to me. Being independent helps me prove to myself, my family and the world I can take care of my self despite my physical limitations. Leading an independent life has always been a top priority to me. In order to fulfill this goal I had to learn to advocate and think for my self. In order to gain independence people with disabilities need to understand their rights according to the law.

The key to independence is early intervention meaning identifying a child's disability at birth to 3 years of age and developing an individualized family service plan determining what accommodations are needed. Before age three I was fitted with hearing aides and glasses at nine months. I also started speech and physical therapy prior to schooling. Under the Individual with Disabilities Act of 1973 a child with a disability has the right to have reasonable accommodations made by public schools to meet their needs until age twenty-one. A case study evaluation is done to determine eligibility. When approved a multidisciplinary conference of parents', teachers, and special education professionals will meet to form an individualized education plan. This plan focuses on what accommodations are needed to meet their limitations. I remember at my IEP meetings it was determined I needed large print materials, speech therapy and tutoring services.

In the past there have several laws put in place to protect the rights of people with disabilities. For example the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of life. The Fair Housing Act of 1988 requires reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities in housing situations. Landlords make reasonable changes providing ramps or allowing eye or hearing dogs on the premises. A very important and crucial law is the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The biggest part of the ADA is employment rights. It states that all people with a disability have the right to equal employment opportunities with reasonable accommodations. This Law also covers public and transportation accommodations. This means public buildings are required to be accessibility with ramps and automatic doors. Public busses are to be wheel chair accessible. The law also states equal participations in state and federal government activities such as voting. It also includes television and telephone accommodations. Telephone companies providing a telecommunication relay system where some one using a text telephone can call a person with a regular telephone. Also all public announcements are to be closed caption. For more information visit the web site Disability Rights. Org.

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