The right to freedom of opinion and expression is critical to the enjoyment of other human rights by persons with disabilities.

Freedom of Opinion

Everyone has the right to hold any opinion or view, regardless of how unpopular, unpleasant, or controversial others might find that opinion. This is a right that is absolutely protected and cannot be subjected to any form of restriction by States, as to do so would be to permit State interference into people’s very minds and thoughts. Essentially we all have the right to think as we please and not to be told what or how to think.

Freedom of Expression

The right to freedom of expression has two distinct parts:

1. The right to impart or share information and ideas of all kinds; and
2. The right to seek and receive information.

The right to freedom of expression includes the right to exchange information and articulate ideas and opinions, as well as to obtain information so that ideas and opinions can be developed.

For example, it would be hard to imagine the forming and effective functioning of disabled people’s organizations without the ability of members to participate in the sharing and exchange of information and ideas.

Similarly the ability of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life, such as through voting and public service, would be severely hampered if candidates could not express their views and voters could not access information about the issues.

The formation and exchange of ideas is also essential to the right to education, where research and debate are critical components of many academic environments.

The development and exchange of ideas is critical to the development of culture and can provide an important means of expression.

According to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD):

States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice by:

1. Providing information intended for the general public to persons with disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost;
2. Accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication, and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions;
3. Urging private entities that provide services to the general public, including through the Internet, to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities;
4. Encouraging the mass media, including providers of information through the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities;
5. Recognizing and promoting the use of sign languages.

As with other human rights, one of the greatest barriers to enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and opinion can be the attitudes of others.

Prevailing social attitudes and stereotypes often create an environment in which the opinions of persons with disabilities are not welcome. Even when they do express themselves, their ideas and opinions may not be accepted as worthy of consideration on an equal basis with those of others.

Persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities commonly face pressure from others to conform not only in their way of thinking, but also in their methods of expressing themselves, to a manner considered “more acceptable.”

Some people with psychosocial disabilities have noted that forced treatment involving psychotropic medications can interfere substantially with a person’s thought processes, making it difficult to think clearly and formulate opinions. In some cases the actual objective of using these therapies is to alter the way people with psychosocial disabilities think and express themselves so that their behaviour and beliefs do not offend or upset other people. This treatment is often defended by the argument that it is in the person’s best interests to avoid thoughts, ideas, and opinions that are “not rational.”