The Rights of the People We Serve
The following are your rights if you are eligible for developmental services or acquired brain disorder services in New Hampshire. These rights can only be restricted with your informed consent, or by court order, or if your actions would hurt another person or interfere with his/her rights or welfare. If you are under age eighteen, these rights belong to your parent or legal guardian. If you are eighteen or older and have a guardian, then some or all of the rights are given to your guardian by a New Hampshire probate court.
If you have any questions about your rights, talk with your Service Coordinator or our Complaint Investigator, or get in touch with other advocates listed here.
Along with rights, you have responsibilities. Some examples include respecting the rights of people around you just as you want them to respect yours, letting people know what you want and need, taking care of your home, keeping appointments, asking questions if you need more information or if you have concerns.
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
- Freedom of religious preference
- To register to vote and to vote
- The following civil rights unless a court-appointed guardian has been given this decision: to manage your own affairs, marry or divorce, make a will, hold licenses, exercise any other civil right
- To not be discriminated against
- To legal remedies
PERSONAL RIGHTS
- To be treated with dignity and respect at all times
- Freedom from any verbal, non-verbal, mental, physical, or sexual abuse or neglect
- Freedom from unauthorized use of physical force except the minimum needed to prevent harm to you or others
- Freedom from personal or financial exploitation
- Privacy and confidentiality
- To give consent prior to photographs, fingerprints or audio-visual recording
- To complain
- To a placement hearing prior to placement in a restrictive residential setting
TREATMENT RIGHTS
- Adequate, appropriate and humane services
- Quality services
- Services that promote participation in your community
- Services in the least restrictive environment
- Services that promote independence
- To have an individual service plan and to have services as agreed upon in plan
- To voluntary placement, and to seek changes in placement or withdraw from any placement or from services
- To be informed of all significant risks, benefits, side effects and alternative treatment and services, and to give consent following informed decision
- To refuse to participate in any form of experimental treatment or research
- To be fully informed of your diagnosis and prognosis
- To referral for medical care and treatment
- To refuse medications and treatment
- To consultation and a second opinion at your own expense
- To request to have guardian, advocate or other representative present at meetings involving your participation or informed decision-making
- To freedom from restraint, unless in accordance with an approved plan
OTHER RIGHTS
- Written notice before suspension or termination of services
- Additional rights in community residences include: the right to a safe, sanitary and humane place to live; to privacy; to freely and privately communicate with others; to individual choices about clothing, possessions, money and work; to be reimbursed for the loss of your money held in safe-keeping by the residence
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION OR WANT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT
If you have a question about your rights or about how you are being treated, talk with your Service Coordinator or see state standard He-M 310. You or a friend may make a complaint in person, in writing, by phone, TTD, or on a recording to:
Complaint Investigator
One Sky Community Services
755 Banfield Rd. Ste. 3
Portsmouth, NH 03801
1-800-660-4103; 603-436-6111
You are always entitled to an answer to your complaint. You may appeal any decision. You may be represented by anyone you choose. (Services under RSA 171-B and personal safety emergencies may result in legitimate restrictions on some rights.)
OTHER ADVOCATES
NH Bureau of Developmental Services
State Office Park South, 105 Pleasant St.
Concord, NH 03301
1-800-852-3345 ext. 5034
Client & Legal Services
State Office Park South, 105 Pleasant St.
Concord, NH 03301
1-800-852-3345 ext. 5144
Bureau of Elderly & Adult Services
129 Pleasant St.
Concord, NH 03301
1-800-949-0470
Division of Children, Youth & Families
30 Maplewood Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-433-8300
The Disabilities Rights Center, Inc.
18 Low Ave.
Concord, NH 03301-4971
1-800-834-1721; (603) 228-0432
Parent Information Center
P.O. Box 2405
Concord, NH 03302-2405
603-224-7005; 1-800-947-7005