Global-Report-Living-Colour-dr2-2

Inclusive Communities = Stronger Communities
GLOBAL REPORT ON ARTICLE 19: THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY
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Choice
19 (a) “Persons with disabilities have the
opportunity to choose their place of residence
and where and with whom they live on an equal
basis with others and are not obliged to live in a
particular living arrangement;”
The first section of Article 19 about choice has two
important aspects; the right to exercise one’s choice on an
equal basis with others and having the same options
available to chose from as others in the community.
Through our consultations and surveys we heard that for
the vast majority of people with intellectual disabilities the
decision about where and with whom they live is made by
family members, guardians or service providers. People
with intellectual disabilities are limited in the options
available to them because communities continue to create
alternative and segregated residential options which are
different from those available to others in the community.
The Right to Make Decisions
From focus group discussions, surveys and stories from selfadvocates,
we heard about how people’s rights to make
decisions for themselves are restricted. People with
intellectual disabilities are consistently denied the right to
express their preferences, to make decisions and to have
their voices heard. Formally, through guardianship orders,
or informally through an accepted practice that a third
party makes all the decisions for a person with an
intellectual disabilities, people with intellectual disabilities
are not having their voices heard. As a result they are not
having a say in the big decisions (e.g. where to live, who
they want to live with) or the day-to-day decisions (e.g.
when to eat, when to go out, what to do when they go out)
that impact their life. For self-advocates in all regions of the
world, a key issue in achieving the right to live and be
included in the community was having control in their lives.
ZANZIBAR I get financial support from
my family and whenever I am going out,
I am asked to return home early. If I
don’t listen, I get beaten up so I rectify
myself. I like to have more freedom,
work and a wife. I would also like to train
to be a doctor. I would also like to travel
to other areas, such as the rural areas
and attend all sports functions.¨