Module 4. Privacy, Integrity, Home, and Family Violations of Other Human Rights |
Violations of Other Human Rights
Violations of other human rights can create barriers to the ability of persons with disabilities to live independently and with dignity in the community. For example:
- Disability-based discrimination in employment not only violates the right to work, but may also deprive persons with disabilities of the means to earn an income to support themselves;
- The lack of accessible transportation not only deprives persons with disabilities of the right to freedom of movement, but also harms their ability to access work, education, healthcare, and shops, as well as to interact fully with the community;
- Services such as medical care or rehabilitation that are available to others locally in a general hospital or on an outpatient basis may only be available to persons with disabilities in an institutional setting;
- The lack of an adequate standard of living may force persons with disabilities to live in a segregated institutional setting or with family members merely for survival reasons, such as access to food and shelter;
- The lack of accessible housing may greatly reduce the choices available to persons with disabilities who want to live and work in a particular community; and
- Negative and discriminatory attitudes towards persons with disabilities may make persons with disabilities feel uncomfortable or unsafe among other community members and in turn encourage them to avoid such interactions. Such attitudes may even encourage families to hide their family members with disabilities from the community.
Violations of the right to live independently in the community also frequently lead to violations of other human rights. For example:
- Forcing persons with disabilities to live in segregated settings deprives them of the opportunity to participate fully in the social, cultural, and political life of their community;
- Children with disabilities who must live apart from their families are deprived of the opportunity to grow up in a family setting and often are denied quality inclusive education;
- Institutional settings can often expose persons with disabilities to a higher risk of violence, sexual abuse, and even death, especially women and girls with disabilities and persons with intellectual disabilities; and
- Segregated settings may also deprive persons with disabilities of the opportunity to exercise their right to marry and have a family of their own.
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