Rights and making decisions

Your rights and your everyday choices

You have human rights. Getting care or support does not take them away.

Having more say in your life

This guide is for people in England. Independence can include getting the support you choose.

Your culture and beliefs

Support for religious services, cultural connections and your own beliefs.

Taking risks and doing things you choose

Everyone faces some risks in life. Support should help you do things that matter to you.

My choices and freedom

Understand restrictions, ask about alternatives and protect your choice and freedom.

Choose your evenings and social life

This guide is for adults in England. Your social life matters.

I do not want to marry that person

Saying no, changing your mind and getting safe help with pressure to marry.

Hate crime and getting help

This guide is for people in England. Hate crime is not your fault.

Benefits & money

Your rights when you buy things

This guide is for people in England. A consumer is someone who buys things for personal use.

What is a risk assessment?

What a risk assessment means and how you should be involved.

Does my support plan respect me?

Your support should help you have a good life. This guide is for adults in England.

When people restrict your freedom

This guide is about care and support in England. You can ask for help to question restrictions.

Your vote and the help you can ask for

Voting helps choose people who make decisions about our country or local area. This guide is about voting in England.

Ask your MP for help

MP means Member of Parliament. Your MP represents the area where you live.

Learning Disability Pride and speaking up together

Learning Disability Pride celebrates people with learning disabilities. You can choose how you join in.

Harassment and being treated badly for speaking up

Get help with unwanted behaviour or unfair treatment after speaking up.

Campaigns and making change

A campaign brings people together to ask for change. You can choose how to take part.

Political parties’ plans in Easy Read

Easy Read party plans from 2024, and finding information for your election.

Getting married or forming a civil partnership

Plan a marriage or civil partnership with the support and information you need.

I want a divorce

Your choices, legal steps and support when you want to end a marriage or civil partnership.

Health

Choosing contraception

Explore contraception choices and where to get advice.

Help after unwanted sexual contact

Find medical care and support after unwanted sexual contact.

Making decisions and getting access

Making your own decisions

This guide is about making decisions in England. It is mainly for people aged 16 or over.

Advocacy

Find an advocate or group near me

Find an advocate or a self-advocacy group in your area.

Advocacy

Helping each other speak up

Advocacy means support to understand choices and have your views heard. Peer advocacy is help from someone with similar experiences.

Ask for changes that help you

Services should be accessible to disabled people. You may need changes to use a service or take part.

What people write about me

Staff may write notes about the support they give you. You can ask what they write and who can read it.

Communication & senses

Contacting a service

Get past contact barriers and keep your message in your own control.

Agreeing an access plan for a meeting or conference

Ask for the changes you need before the meeting. Write down what the organiser agrees to arrange.

Can my companion enter free?

Check free companion tickets, access schemes, costs and reasonable adjustments.

Location trackers and your choice

Understand location-sharing devices, their limits and how to plan support that respects your choices.

Checking access before visiting a shop or venue

You can ask a shop or venue about access. Explain what would help you use the service.

Assistance dogs and companion dogs

Dog support, everyday care and access to places you want to go.

Getting help with an important decision

This guide is for people aged 16 and over in England. You should have support to make your own decisions.

When a service treats you unfairly

Shops, banks and other services should be accessible. You can ask for help with disability-related barriers.

Seeing your records

Ask to see your records and get help to correct mistakes.

Your social worker

Understand your social worker’s role and prepare for meetings.

Health

Asking another doctor

You can ask questions about your care. You can ask for another medical opinion.

Deputyship

Help with money decisions

This guide explains a financial deputy. A financial deputy has permission from a court to make certain money decisions.

Deputyship

Help with care and health decisions

This guide explains a welfare deputy. A welfare deputy has permission from a court to make certain care or health decisions.

A bank account you can use

Ask about identification, accessible banking, getting cash and safe support with an account.

Choose someone to help with future decisions

Understand the two types of LPA, choosing attorneys, safeguards and changing arrangements.

Your home and support choices

It’s my home, not your workplace

This is your home, even when staff work there. Support should respect your choices and privacy.

Who I want to live with

Have a say about your home, housemates, privacy and support.

Choosing who provides your support

Choose support, question a new provider and ask for suitable alternatives.

If you disagree with a care-home move

You can say if you do not want to move. Your wishes about your home matter.

Your home and your support in supported living

In supported living, your home and your care should have separate agreements. You can ask to change support without moving home.

Your rights when renting a home

This guide is about homes in England. The rules depend on your housing agreement.

If you may lose your home

Ask for help before you lose your home, or when you have nowhere safe to stay.

Applying for a council or housing-association home

Apply for social housing and ask for your disability and support needs to be considered.

My home and agency safety checks

Your home, agency safety checks, PAT testing and fridge temperatures.

Writing the job for my support staff

Write the job, choose essential skills and plan fair recruitment.

Using a support agency

Compare agencies, agree visits and costs, and keep your say over support at home.

Your rights at work

Work & volunteering

Adjustments and a passport for work

You can ask for support when applying for or doing a job. This guide is about work in England.

Work & volunteering

Complaining about a problem at work

A formal complaint to your employer is called a grievance. You can ask for help to explain your concern.

Work & volunteering

If you face discrimination at work

The Equality Act helps protect people from discrimination. This guide is about work and applying for jobs in England.

Complaints and challenging funding decisions

Benefits & money

Extra costs because of disability

Disability can mean paying extra for things you need. You can ask for help understanding these costs.

Your local NHS board

Your area has an integrated care board. People call it the ICB.

Taking your complaint to an ombudsman

An ombudsman is an independent complaints service. It can look at some complaints that remain unresolved.

Getting information about you

Get information held about you and challenge mistakes or missing records.

Asking public bodies for information

Ask public bodies for recorded information about policies, spending and decisions.

When you disagree about CHC

CHC means NHS Continuing Healthcare. It can pay for some adults’ care. You can challenge a decision you disagree with.

Universal Credit and the help you need

Get help with fit notes, work assessments, appointments, commitments and sanctions.

Getting ready for a benefits appeal

Prepare evidence, ask for adjustments, understand the hearing and follow up the decision.

I want more say about my money

Ask for more control or report problems with an appointee, attorney, deputy or informal helper.

Mental health and legal safeguards

Your rights in a mental health hospital

This guide is about mental health hospitals in England. You can ask for help to understand your rights.

A Community Treatment Order (CTO)

A Community Treatment Order is called a CTO. This information is about England.

Restrictions at home or in supported living

This guide is for adults in England. You can ask for help to question restrictions on your freedom.

Advocacy

Help when care limits your freedom

This guide explains support to understand and question restrictions on your freedom. Different rules apply in different places.

Free support after some mental health hospital stays

Some people can get free mental health aftercare. This is called section 117 aftercare.

Planning & support

CTR and CETR: a review of your care

CTR means Care and Treatment Review. CETR means Care, Education and Treatment Review. A CETR also looks at education.

Health

Going into a mental health hospital

This guide is about mental health hospitals in England. Some specialist hospitals are called assessment and treatment units.

Police, courts and legal help

Getting help from a solicitor

A solicitor gives legal advice. They can help explain your choices and rights.

Help to communicate in court

Court words and questions can be difficult. You can ask for communication support.

Help with immigration and visas

Immigration rules cover entering and staying in the UK. This guide explains help for people living in England.

If you are arrested

This guide is about being arrested in England. Being arrested does not mean you are guilty. You can ask for help to understand what is happening.

Getting support in prison and on probation

Know who can help with care, communication and returning to the community.