Pennsylvania Code › Title 55 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part VIII - Intellectual Disability and Autism Manual › Subpart E - Residential Agencies/Facilities/Services › Article I - Licensing/Approval › Chapter 6500 - FAMILY LIVING HOMES › INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS › Section 6500.32 - Rights of the individual

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) An
						individual may not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed,
						disability, religious affiliation, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual
						orientation, national origin or age.
(b) An individual has the right to civil and
						legal rights afforded by law, including the right to vote, speak freely,
						practice the religion of the individual's choice and practice no
						religion.
(c) An individual may not
						be abused, neglected, mistreated, exploited, abandoned or subjected to corporal
						punishment.
(d) An individual shall
						be treated with dignity and respect.
(e) An individual has the right to make
						choices and accept risks.
(f) An
						individual has the right to refuse to participate in activities and
						services.
(g) An individual has the
						right to control the individual's own schedule and activities.
(h) An individual has the right to privacy of
						person and possessions.
(i) An
						individual has the right of access to and security of the individual's
						possessions.
(j) An individual has
						the right to voice concerns about the services the individual
						receives.
(k) An individual has the
						right to participate in the development and implementation of the individual
						plan.
(l) An individual has the
						right to receive scheduled and unscheduled visitors, and to communicate and
						meet privately with whom the individual chooses, at any time.
(m) An individual has the right to
						unrestricted access to send and receive mail and other forms of communications,
						unopened and unread by others, including the right to share contact information
						with whom the individual chooses.
(n) An individual has the right to
						unrestricted and private access to telecommunications.
(o) An individual has the right to manage and
						access the individual's finances.
(p) An individual has the right to choose
						persons with whom to share a bedroom.
(q) An individual has the right to furnish
						and decorate the individual's bedroom in accordance with §
												6500.33 (relating to negotiation
						of choices).
(r) An individual has
						the right to lock the individual's bedroom door.
(1) Locking may be provided by a key, access
						card, keypad code or other entry mechanism accessible to the individual to
						permit the individual to lock and unlock the door.
(2) Access to an individual's bedroom shall
						be provided only in a life-safety emergency or with the express permission of
						the individual for each incidence of access.
(3) Assistive technology shall be provided as
						needed to allow the individual to lock and unlock the door without
						assistance.
(4) The locking
						mechanism shall allow easy and immediate access by the individual and staff
						persons in the event of an emergency.
(5) The primary caregiver shall have the key
						or entry device to lock and unlock the door.