Rights of People

All people who receive support from I Have A Chance Support Services Ltd. shall have the same legal rights as any Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.  We will help individuals to learn and understand their rights, inform individuals of their rights, and shall support the rights of all individuals according to legislation.

If an individual’s rights have been restricted, we shall ensure the individual has the knowledge and involvement of the restrictions. When restrictions are placed by the individual’s legal guardian, the individual shall be informed of these restrictions.

By providing supports geared to the individual and promoting opportunities when appropriate for the use of an assistive technology device or environmental intervention, we hope to help individuals gain as much personal control in all areas of their lives as possible.

We promote every person’s right to:

• be treated with respect.
• have and to express his/her own feelings and opinions.
• be listened to and taken seriously.
• decide what’s right for him/herself.
• say “no” without feeling guilty.
• ask for what he/she wants (realizing the other person has the right to refuse).
• get what he/she pays for.
• make mistakes.
• ask for information from professionals.
• choose not to be assertive.

For the individuals we offer support, we embrace the following individual’s rights checklist:

• The right to services provided in a respectful manner and which encourages individual self-worth and helps the individual feel better about him/herself.
  
• The right to take part in and give to the community and to have the right to access to the same services as individuals without a disability.
  
• The right to make choices in day-to-day living and to make decisions about his/her own lifestyle.
  
• The right to take risks.
  
• The right to accept or refuse services and to be involved in staffing choices.
  
• The right to be fully informed about services, expectations, choices or options, and possible consequences.
  
• The right to voice concerns and complaints and the right to file a grievance(s) and have them heard.
  
• The right to appeal choices.
  
• The right to have access to information in his/her files and to be informed about the results of assessments, examinations, tests, and procedures.
  
• The right to live as independent and as normal a lifestyle as possible.
  
• The right to a support network of people who care about them as a person, in addition to those being paid to provide services.
  
• The right to have his/her behavioural needs addressed through the least restrictive procedures possible.
  
• The right to effective service and responsible financial management.
  
• The right to practice his/her own faith or religion.
  
• The right to engage in cultural and religious activities of his/her own choice.