KRS 210.033: Rights of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities --

Purpose.

(1) As used in this section, "developmental disabilities" has the same meaning as in

KRS 387.510.

(2) The General Assembly finds that in addition to the rights provided under KRS

Chapter 347 for developmentally disabled persons, the rights of individuals with

intellectual or developmental disabilities include but are not limited to the right to:

(a) Be treated at all times with courtesy and respect and with full recognition of

their dignity and individuality;

(b) Accessible, appropriate, safe, equal, and sanitary living, learning, and working

environments that comply with local, state, and federal standards and

recognize the individual's need for privacy and independence;

(c) Practice the religion of their choice or to abstain from the practice of religion;

(d) Ownership and use of personal possessions to maintain individuality and

personal dignity;

(e) Pursue vocational opportunities that will promote and enhance economic

independence;

(f) Be treated equally as citizens under the law;

(g) Be free from emotional, psychological, verbal, and physical abuse;

(h) Participate in decisions that affect their lives and promote self -determination

in relation to their cognitive abilities;

(i) Participate in their personal financial aff airs to the extent not otherwise

determined by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise by law;

(j) Confidential treatment of all information in their personal and medical

records, except to the extent that disclosure or release of records i s permitted

under KRS 210.235;

(k) Voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services without

coercion or discrimination;

(l) Freely participate in the political process to the extent provided by law;

(m) Communicate verbal or nonverbal refusa l to participate in medical or

psychological experiments;

(n) Participate in integrated programs of education, training, social development,

habilitation, and recreation;

(o) Fair and equal wages in integrated work places; and

(p) Choose and maintain healt hcare providers, personal care providers, services,

and supports to the extent not otherwise required by order of a court of

competent jurisdiction or otherwise by law.

(3) The general purposes of this section are to:

(a) Safeguard all individuals within t he state from discrimination because of the

person's status as an individual with an intellectual or developmental

disability;

(b) Protect the individual's interest in personal dignity and freedom from

humiliation;

(c) Make available to the state the individual's full productive capacities; and

(d) Further the interest, rights, and privileges of individuals with intellectual

disabilities and developmental disabilities within the state.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to repeal any other law of t his state relating

to discrimination because of the person's status as a qualified individual with a

disability as defined in KRS 344.030.