RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

What is a Right?

Let’s start with a question. What is a right? It seems like an easy question, but when you take a second to think about it, it can be tough to answer. Can you name a right you have? Can you think of a time when your rights were respected? Or maybe a time when they weren’t?

If we’re going to get rights, right — we have to understand what they are.

A right is something you can do or have, just because you are a person.

Rights are part of being human.
You don’t have to earn them.
You don’t have to pass a test.
You don’t need permission.

Rights include things like:

• Making your own choices
• Saying what you believe
• Being safe
• Going to school
• Having a place to live
• Being treated fairly

These are not “special rights” for people with disabilities. They are human rights.
Everyone has them.

What is a Law?

In Canada, rights are protected by laws.

A law is like a rule that applies to everyone. Laws are made by the government. Some laws give people freedoms. Some laws help keep people safe.

For example, the law says that:

• People with disabilities must be treated fairly
• You can’t be treated badly just because of your gender, race, religion, or disability
• You have the right to speak up or ask for help

There are many important laws that protect us, but we will talk about three of them in later modules:

• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• The Adults Living with an Intellectual Disability Act

Who’s in the Driver Seat of Your Life?

Here’s one way to think about rights. Imagine your life is like a car.

For a long time, many people with disabilities have been treated like passengers in their own lives. Other people make the decisions — where to go, what to do, how to live.

But having rights means having a say. It means getting in the driver’s seat or at least choosing the destination.

In this video, Backseat Drivers, we explore what it feels like when others take over your decisions, even when they mean well. We also look at what it means to take back control, with the right support and respect.

This video is about choice, voice, and learning how to drive your own life, not just ride along.

What is a Responsibility?

We can’t learn about rights without also learning about responsibilities. They go hand in hand. One doesn’t work without the other.

Think of it like a scale. On one side are your rights. On the other side are your responsibilities.

If the scale tips too far in one direction, it becomes unbalanced.
Too many rights with no responsibilities? Things can fall apart.
Too many responsibilities with no rights? That’s not fair either.

A fair and respectful life means keeping the scale balanced.

What is a responsibility? A responsibility is something you are expected to do.
It means being careful with your choices. It means thinking about how your actions affect others.

Sometimes our rights connect with other people’s rights. For example, everyone has the right to decide when they go to bed. But if you share a home, those rights can conflict. If one person plays loud music or watches TV late at night while another is trying to sleep, the two rights clash. The answer isn’t to take away the right to watch TV. Instead, it’s about using that right with responsibility. Maybe the person lowers the volume or uses headphones. That way, they still enjoy their TV, while also respecting the other person’s right to rest.

If you want to make choices, you also need to:

• Think ahead
• Ask questions
• Take ownership if something goes wrong
• Learn from mistakes

We all have the responsibility to use our rights in a way that is safe, fair, and respectful.

Let’s use an example. Let’s say someone named Sam has never been in charge of their money.
Staff have always made the decisions.

One day, Sam is told: “It’s your money now. You get to decide.”

That’s exciting. But it can also feel overwhelming.

Now, Sam has the right to spend their money. But Sam also has the responsibility to:

• Budget
• Pay bills
• Save
• Ask for help if needed

Staff should not take control again. Instead, they can support, guide, and respect Sam’s choices.

Yes, Sam might make a mistake. That’s okay. Mistakes are part of learning. That’s how responsibility grows.

And when rights and responsibilities stay balanced, the scale is steady.
That’s when real choice and real freedom can happen.

Message from the Team >