Client Rights

Persons who receive residential services operated or financially supported by the Division of Developmental Disabilities shall be afforded all civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution and Laws of the United States and the State of Arizona. Below are examples of specific rights which are not intended to limit in any way those otherwise guaranteed under Federal and State Laws.

To all individuals and, when appropriate, to persons responsible for them:

• You have the right to be informed of your medical condition, developmental and behavioral status, and attendant risks of treatment, and the right to refuse treatment or services.
   
• You have the right to file complaints and the right to due process.
   
• You have the right to confidentiality of all personally identifying information and records obtained in the course of your evaluation, examination or provision of services, and the right to examine these records.
   
• You have the right not to be fingerprinted, photographed, or have your conversations recorded without your consent.
   
• You have the right to be free of physical, verbal, sexual or psychological abuse or punishment.
   
• You have the right to be free of physical restraints and unnecessary drugs, and the right to receive active treatment to reduce dependency on drugs.
   
• You have the right to manage, or be taught to manage, your financial affairs to the extent of your capabilities. This includes choosing what purchases you wish to make.
   
• You have the right to participate in social, religious and community activities of your choice.
• You have the right to communicate, associate, and meet privately with individuals of your choice. This includes the right to visit or be visited by a personal physician, your attorney, or a representative of your religious faith.
   
• You have the right to personal privacy, including privacy during the treatment and care of personal needs. If you and your spouse reside in the same residential setting, you shall be afforded the opportunity to share a room.
   
• You have the right to retain and use appropriate personal possessions, and have access to individual storage space for you private use.
   
• You have the right to choose and be dressed in your own clothing each day.
   
• You have the right to send and receive unopened mail without censorship.
   
• You have the right to telephone access with privacy for incoming and outgoing local and long distance calls, except as contraindicated by factors identified in your individual program plan. In situations where there is a toll charge, you shall be responsible for the payment of such charge.
   
• You have the right not to be compelled to perform services for the agency. However, if you do work and the primary purpose of your work benefits the agency, you must be compensated for your efforts based on prevailing wages, commensurate with your abilities.

No denial of any right s may be made unless the exercise of those rights constitutes an immediate threat to your health or safety, or the health or safety of others, or upon order of the court. Any exception shall be documented in your record and reported through established procedures.