It is normal for things to be hard sometimes.
But there are ways to make things easier.
You can make your own accommodationsChanges that make things easier for disabled people. They help us get the same things as non-disabled people..
There are lots of tools autistic people use to make our lives easier.
Here are a few of them:

• Printing out schedules with pictures to plan out your day
• Having a friend come over once a week to help you clean up
• Setting up a phone or laptop to remind you to do things

You might feel pressured to communicate in certain ways.
People might want you to talk out loud.
They might push you to talk faster.
They might want you to talk in ways that they like.
You should communicate however works best for you.
You might find writing easier than talking.
You might find it easier to point to pictures or draw things.
You should communicate in a way that you like. That’s self-advocacyStanding up for yourself so you get what you need.!

Remember: self-advocacy is for everyone.
You are already a self-advocate.
You can use some of these ideas to practice self-advocacy.
The more you practice, the easier it will get.

Even when you self-advocate, people might be jerks.
People might not listen to you.
People might treat you badly.
When you think something is wrong, it can help to know your rights.

• Self-AdvocacyStanding up for yourself so you get what you need. Online – http://www.selfadvocacyonline.org/
• The Meaning of Self-Advocacy – by Mel Baggs – http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2019/02/the-meaning-of-self-advocacy.html
• I’m Determined: Empowering Self-Determined Behavior – https://www.imdetermined.org
• From Ableist to Self Advocate- by Amy Sequenzia – https://awnnetwork.org/from-ableist-to-self-advocate/
• Self-Determination Tools – http://www.cmhsrp.uic.edu/nrtc/tools.asp

Everyone has rights. You have rights!

The word “rights” can mean two things.
Sometimes, rights are things that the law gives you.
These are called legal rightsRights that the law gives to you..
The government has to make sure you get these rights.

The second meaning of “rights” is “things that you should have.”
People might say you have the “right” to be happy.
But the government doesn’t have to make sure that you are happy.

This chapter of the book will explain what legal rights you have.
We will talk about laws that protect people with disabilities.
This chapter focuses on rights in the United States of America.

Other countries have their own disability rights laws.
You can learn more about those at the end of this chapter.

The Americans with Disabilities ActA law that gives people with disabilities lots of different rights. People say it is the biggest disability rights law in the United States. is also called the ADA.
The ADA is a law that gives people with disabilities lots of different rights.
People say it is the biggest disability rights law in the United States.

The ADA says that you have a right to accommodationsChanges that make things easier for disabled people. They help us get the same things as non-disabled people..
Some examples of accommodations from the ADA are:

• Getting captions on a TV show
• Menus in Braille
• Bringing your service dog to work
• An interpreter at the doctor’s office

The ADA gives people with disabilities rights at work.
The law says that your boss can’t discriminate against disabled people.
Your boss can’t fire you because you have a disability.
Your boss can’t treat you differently because of your disability.
You can get accommodations at work because of the ADA.

The ADA also gives you rights in places run by the government.
For example:

• Libraries.
• The post office.
• City hall.
• Public transportation, like buses, trains, and subways.

The ADA says you have the right to go inside any place run by the government.
You have the same right to use any service run by the government.

If a business is open to everyone, the ADA says you have the right to go inside.
You have the right to do the same things as everyone else.
For example:

• If you go to a hairdresser, you have the right to get a haircut.
• If you go to the movies, you have a right to captions.
• If you go to a store, you have the right to go inside and buy things.
• If you go to a restaurant, you have the right to order food.

The ADA says you have the right to communicate in ways that work for you.
You have the right to understand what is going on.
Phone calls, text messages, and video calls have to be accessibleWhen disabled people can easily use something. We can easily get around somewhere. We feel like we belong there..

The ADA is a very important law.
It gives people with disabilities the same rights as everyone else.

IDEA is a law that gives rights to students with disabilities.
IDEA stands for “Individuals with Disabilities Education ActA law that gives rights to students with disabilities..”
IDEA is for schools that get money from the government.

Not every student with a disability gets rights from IDEA.
Autistic students do get rights from IDEA.
But to get rights from IDEA, you need a diagnosisWhen a doctor says you are autistic..

IDEA says you have the right to:

• Get a diagnosis for your disability
• Go to school
• Go to school for free, like everyone else
• Learn things in school
• Learn the same things as everyone else
• Be in the same classroom as non-disabled students
• Get the help you need to learn

IDEA says you can get services to help you learn in school.
Schools need to make a plan for each student with a disability.
The plan is called an IEPA plan that schools need to make for each student with a disability. The plan helps set goals for students with disabilities.. IEP means Individualized Education Plan.
The IEP has to say:

• What you know how to do right now
• What you need to learn
• What your goals at school are for the next year
• How the school will know if you are learning
• The services the school will give you
• AccommodationsChanges that make things easier for disabled people. They help us get the same things as non-disabled people. the school will make for you

Some students don’t end up in the same classrooms as everyone else.
Sometimes, they don’t take the same tests as everyone else.
If these things happen, the IEP needs to say why.

When you turn 16, you also get a transition planA plan that helps disabled students decide what they will do after high school..
A transition plan helps you decide what you will do after high school.
It helps you figure out how you’ll meet your goals after high school.
You have the transition plan until you are done with school.

There is a law called the Rehabilitation Act.
It is also called the “Rehab ActA law that makes rules for programs the government pays for..”
The Rehab Act makes rules for programs the government pays for.
Section 504The part of the Rehab Act that talks about disability rights. is the part of the Rehab Act that talks about disability rights.

The Rehab Act says the government can’t discriminate against people with disabilities.
If the government pays for something, it has to work for people with disabilities.
For example:

• Government websites have to be accessibleWhen disabled people can easily use something. We can easily get around somewhere. We feel like we belong there..
• Government buildings have to be accessible.
• The government can’t discriminate against people with disabilities for jobs.

Places the government gives money to can’t discriminate either.
For example: if the government hires a business, the business can’t discriminate.

The government gives some schools money.
That means those schools also have to follow the Rehab Act.
The school can make Section 504 plansA plan that says what a student needs to be able to learn. for disabled students.
A Section 504 Plan says what a student needs to be able to learn.
For example, the student might need:

• An iPad
• A letterboard
• Large print
• Sign language
• A support person

Some students get Section 504 plans.
Some students get IEPs.
It depends on the school and the student.

The Fair Housing ActA law that makes sure people with disabilities have housing rights. is another disability rights law.
It makes sure people with disabilities have housing rights.
It is called the FHA for short.

Here are a few rights you get from the FHA:

• If you want to rent an apartment, landlords can’t say no because of your disability.
• If you want to buy a house, sellers can’t say no because of your disability.
• Your landlord has to let you put a ramp at your apartment if you need one.
• If you have a service dog, your landlord has to let it live with you.
  It doesn’t matter if dogs usually aren’t allowed.

Olmstead v. L.C. was a big court case about living in the community.
People just call it “OlmsteadA court case about people with disabilities in institutions. It says people with disabilities have a right to live in the community.” for short.

In 1999, two women were living in an institution.
Their names were Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson.
They didn’t want to live in an institution.
They wanted to live in the community.
They said the ADAA law that gives people with disabilities lots of different rights. People say it is the biggest disability rights law in the United States. gave them the right to live in the community.
They went to the Supreme CourtThe U.S. court that has the final say on how laws work. to fight for their rights.
The Supreme Court has the final say on how laws work.
The Supreme Court said that Lois and Elaine were right.

Olmstead means that you have a right to live in the community.
If the government says you can only get services in an institution, they are wrong.
You can get services in the community.

But Olmstead is not a law. It is a court case.
That means you have to go to court to get your Olmstead rights.
Lots of people are still fighting for their Olmstead rights.

Most adults make their own legal decisions.
But some people with disabilities have guardians.
A guardianSomeone who can make legal decisions for a person with disabilities. can make legal decisions for a person with disabilities.
Usually, a guardian is a parent or family member.
A judge chooses who will be the guardian for a disabled person.
Guardians can make choices even if the person with a disability doesn’t like it.
This is wrong!

There is something people with disabilities can do instead of getting a guardian.
It is called supported decision-makingWhen a disabled person gets help making decisions. People can use supported decision-making instead of getting a guardian..
Supported decision-making means you get help making decisions.
But they are still your decisions.
You can choose who helps you make decisions.
These people are called your “supporters.”
Supporters do not make the choices for you.
You still make your own decisions.

If you have a guardian, you might be able to do supported decision-making instead.
Laws about supported decision making are different in every state.
Your Protection & Advocacy Agency (P&A) can help you learn more.
P&A’s help people with disabilities fight for our rights.
They make sure states follow disability laws.
There is a P&A in every state.

• The Americans with Disabilities ActA law that gives people with disabilities lots of different rights. People say it is the biggest disability rights law in the United States. of 1990 – Car Autism Roadmap – https://www.carautismroadmap.org/the-americans-with-disabilities-act-of-1990-ada/
• Job Accommodation Network – https://askjan.org/
• Inclusive Schools Network – https://inclusiveschools.org/
• Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy – https://www.wrightslaw.com/
• OlmsteadA court case about people with disabilities in institutions. It says people with disabilities have a right to live in the community. Self-Assessment – https://www.olmsteadrights.org/self-helptools/assessment/
• How to Make a Supported Decision-MakingWhen a disabled person gets help making decisions. People can use supported decision-making instead of getting a guardian. Agreement – ACLU – https://www.aclu.org/other/how-make-supported-decision-making-agreement
• National Disability Rights Network – https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/
• Information on the ADA – https://www.ada.gov/
• International Disability Alliance – http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/
• International Disability Rights – Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund – https://dredf.org/legal-advocacy/international-disability-rights/