Privacy: A Human Right

[SARN Memo for February 25, 2009]

In many places, people with disabilities do not get equal treatment. Take privacy: Anyone who has a PCA knows that privacy is hard to get. Sometimes staff share our personal details against our wishes.

But we have rights. In 2007, the United Nations passed a new law. It says people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else. It says we have the right to privacy. It doesn’t matter where or how we live.

1. The Problem: Lack of Privacy
2. What Does the New UN Law Say?
3. Group Activity: Role Reversal
4. Resource

• Respond to this memo!
• Read Responses

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1. The Problem: Lack of Privacy

Sound familiar?

• Someone is always hovering around when I’m with my boyfriend.
• My caregiver stole money from me.
• The doctor told my health story to a bunch of strangers in the room.
• My helper tells other people all sorts of stuff about me.

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2. What Does the New UN Law Say?

Here are some of what the new law says about privacy rights (paraphrased):

• What we do in our room is our business.
• We decide what others can know about our lives.
• No one can read our letters unless we say it’s OK.
• No one can listen to our phone calls unless we say it’s OK.
• We have the right to private space to be with our sweetheart.
• Helpers have no right to tell others what they know about us.

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3. Group Activity: Role Reversal

Make teams of two: one person with a disability (the watcher), one without (the doer). The doer does two private things. He or she may pretend to call a sweetheart, or write a short letter. The watcher stays close by and watches the doer very carefully.

After 10 minutes, gather as a large group. Take turns telling how it felt to role play. Next, tell how it feels when people watch you do private things in real life.

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4. Resource

We Have Human Rights
(28 pp, full color)
Today’s memo is based on a dynamite new book for people with developmental disabilities. You can use it to learn about your rights. You can also use it to talk with others about your rights. It even has great exercises for your group. It’s written for self-advocates around the world.

1. Free download. Get a free download copy of the book from the publisher, Harvard Project on Disability.
2. Order a hard copy. Order hard copies of the book in volume discounts from ACT’s online catalog.

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Reader Responses

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