Rights of people with a disability
Access to services | Safeguarding the rights of people with a disability
The Disability Services Act 2006 is based on an expanded declaration of the
rights of people with a disability.
The Act retains the existing rights of people with a disability from the previous legislation, stating:
All people with a disability have the same human rights as other members of society and should be empowered to exercise their rights.
As well as affirming these rights, the Act articulates some specific rights for people with a disability. These include rights when using disability services, such as the right to receive services:
- in a way that respects the confidentiality of personal information
- in a safe, accessible built environment appropriate to the person's needs.
The Act now specifically recognises the right to live a life free from abuse, neglect or exploitation.
The new legislation encourages all Queenslanders to promote inclusive principles within their own communities.
Access to services
People with a disability have the right to equal access to services available to other members of the Queensland community.
The service delivery principles in the Disability Services Act 2006 encourage service providers to consider the needs of people with a disability when they design and deliver services.
Safeguarding the rights of people with a disability
The Disability Services Act 2006 strengthens the rights of people with a disability by introducing measures to safeguard those rights and improve the quality of services funded by Disability Services Queensland.
These measures include:
- recognition of service standards and a process for certification which occurs through the Disability Sector Quality System
- pre-approval of service providers before they seek funding from Disability Services Queensland
- criminal history checks for staff working in services funded by Disability Services Queensland.
The Act also enables Disability Services Queensland to respond rapidly and effectively to any concern for the safety of people with a disability receiving services funded by the department.
Last updated November 2007