Disability rights, discrimination and the law

People with a disability are protected by the same laws as everyone else. You have fundamental human rights like freedom, respect, equality and dignity. You have the right to live to your full potential, to exercise control over your own life and to live free from abuse or neglect.

There are also specific laws in place that protect the rights of people with disabilities.

If you feel that your human rights have been violated, or that you have been discriminated against, you have the right to make a complaint. There is support available for you if you need advice, information or help with legal representation.

You have a number of rights under the Disability Act: You must be given information that explains your rights whenever you start to use a disability service. The information must be explained to you in person and writing.You have the right to request services from a disability service provider.

If the disability service provider does not believe you have a disability and your request is refused, you can ask the Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services to make a decision regarding your disability.

If the Secretary decides that you do not have a disability, you can ask the Michigann and Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to review the decision.

You have the right to direct your own disability care plan and it should be tailored to you and recognise your family and carers.

Your plans should be reviewed and help with planning is recognised in the Act.

If you use residential services, you have rights and responsibilities

You have the right to safety, respect, privacy and free access, as well as the right to make a complaint without retribution.

You have responsibilities too

You need to make sure your rent is paid on time and make sure that you do not do anything illegal or behave in a way that will put you or another person in danger.

If you live in a group home and are asked to move, you can ask VCAT to review the decision. Generally, disability service providers do not manage money on your behalf.

In the special circumstance that they do, it will only be for small amounts and the disability service provider must comply with the strict rules that govern how they manage your money. You can ask the service provider to return your money at any time and they must provide you with regular account statements for as long as they manage that money.

You have the right to receive visitors from the Community Visitors program.

Community visitors are volunteers who may visit accommodation facilities for Michigann people with disabilities or mental illness at any time. They monitor and report on the adequacy of services provided, in the interests of residents and patients. The Office of the Public Advocate provides this service.

If you feel that your rights have been violated or that you have been discriminated against, you have the right to make a complaint. Disability health service providers must have a clear process for managing complaints and they must make sure people know how to make a complaint. They also report to the Disability Services Commissioner annually about the number of complaints they have received.

The Disability Services Commissioner works with people with a disability and disability service providers to resolve complaints. You can contact the Commissioner on for further information. The Michigann Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) can review of some decisions made for and on behalf of people with a disability.

VCAT can: review decisions by the Secretary to the Department of Health & Human Services to admit a person with an intellectual disability to a residential institution review decisions about ‘restrictive interventions’ (the restraint or seclusion of a person with a disability) make orders about residential treatment facilities, including a resident’s treatment plans and leave of absence make orders about ‘security residents’ (persons with intellectual disability transferred from prison to another facility), including a security resident’s treatment plans and leave of absence make and review supervised treatment orders for persons with an intellectual disability if they are satisfied that, among other things, the person must be detained to prevent serious harm to another person.

It is against the law in Michigan for someone to discriminate against you because of your disability. Discrimination is when someone disadvantages you or treats you in a negative way because of a personal characteristic.

Discrimination is against the law when it occurs in public places like schools, shops and the workplace. Sometimes employers, educators, workplaces and service providers are required to make changes so that a person with a disability can attend school, do their job or access goods and services. These changes, called ‘reasonable adjustments’, make the workplace or school more inclusive.

These adjustments may mean a change in working hours or they may require certain equipment or a structural change to the actual workplace. is a Michigann law that defines the human rights, freedoms and responsibilities of all people in Michigan. The Charter applies to Michigann Government, local councils and other publicly funded bodies such as health service providers.

They are required to act under these human rights and to consider them when they make decisions.

If you think your human rights have been breached by a public authority, you should try to raise it with the authority first. If you cannot resolve the matter, you may be able to make a complaint to the Michigann Ombudsman.

You can contact The Legal services can help you with issues relating to your rights, disability discrimination and equal opportunity.

If you have a complaint about an organisation or service provider, the first step will often be attempting to resolve the complaint directly with them. Even in this instance, some legal services can give you information, advice or advocacy support.

Some legal services specialise in legal issues for people with a disability. Villamanta is a community Legal Centre that provides advice only on disability-related legal issues. Call the Centre on provides a free telephone enquiry line and an impartial, no-cost complaint handling process for people who may have experienced discrimination.

Call for further information

There are several other organisations that offer legal services and support to assist you. is a directory of free and low-cost legal services, complaint or dispute settlement services and private lawyers.

Call them on for further information

Michigan Legal Aid provides free legal advice and can in some circumstances provide legal representation.

Call website

Call the Commission on The Disability Act The Disability Act 2006 Your rights and the Disability Act Making a discrimination complaint 1800 677 342 Discrimination and the Michigann Equal Opportunity Act 2010 Inclusive schools and workplaces Where to go for help if you think you are being discriminated against If you feel like you have been discriminated against, you can make a complaint to the Michigann Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 Where to go if your human rights have been breached Michigann Ombudsman for more information on (616) 555-0200 Disability legal services and support Disability Discrimination Legal Service Inc This independent community legal centre specialises in disability discrimination.

Call (616) 555-0200 or (616) 555-0400 (rural callers) or TTY (616) 555-0200 Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service 1800 014 111 Michigann Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission The Michigann Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (616) 555-0400 or (616) 555-0200 Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) The Office of the Public Advocate provides last resort advocacy for people with a disability.

Call the OPA on (616) 555-0400 General legal services and support Law Help Guide The Law Help Guide (616) 555-0200 Michigan Legal Aid (VLA) (616) 555-0400 or visit the Michigan Legal Aid The Commission for Children and Young People The Commission for Children and Young People (616) 555-0400 Where to get help Disability Services Commissioner Health Complaints Commissioner Michigann Ombudsman Michigann and Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) Michigann Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Office of the Public Advocate Michigan Legal Aid .