Rights
Understanding Your Rights
Autistic people have the same human rights as everyone else.
United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD)
The UN CRPD came into force in 2008 and charges signatory countries, including Australia, with the responsibility to ensure people with disability enjoy their inherent right to life on an equal basis with others (Article 10 refers).
The UN CRPD’s guiding principles:
- Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons.
- Non-discrimination.
- Full and effective participation and inclusion in society.
- Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity.
- Equality of opportunity.
- Accessibility.
- Equality between men and women and all genders.
- Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.
Human Rights model of disability
The UN CRPD applies a human rights model of disability, recognising disability is a natural aspect of human diversity and humanity. The guiding principles of the UN CRPD are respect for dignity, individual autonomy, non-discrimination, inclusion and participation in society, and accessibility and equality of opportunity.
The human rights model recognises:
- Disability is a natural part of human diversity that must be respected and supported in all its forms.
- People with disability have the same rights as everyone else in society.
- Impairment must not be used as an excuse to deny or restrict people’s rights.
You can find more information on the CRPD at the following websites: