1. The Right to Choose Your Relationships
by Steven Powe
Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

2. The Human Right of Being in Relationships
You have the right to be in friendships and relationships with other people outside of your family.
You can have as many friends as you want.
You have the right to choose your own lifestyle as long as you do not violate the rights of others. Your lifestyle includes your beliefs, your behavior, your values, your choices, and your opinions.
You have the right to being in a relationship in which you have sex or to say no to your partner if you do not want to have sex.
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

3. Relationships Continued
You have the right to express your opinion about your relationships as long as it is in a respectful way, if you choose to do so.
You could have the right to communicate with other people whenever you want, as long as it is respectful of their rights and wishes.
You have the right to get married if you want to, to a man or a woman.
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

4. Why is it Important to Exercise the Right to Be in Relationships
It is good to have friends outside your family and paid staff.
It is nice to have someone to talk to, hang out with, and do things with, so you won’t be bored and lonely.
You can have a family of your own if you want.
Having a relationship can make you happy.
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

5. Questions for YOU
Have you ever been in a relationship or had a friend outside your family?
Has anyone ever told you that you could not be in a relationship? How did that make you feel?
Has anyone ever stopped you from seeing your friend or partner?
What are some responsibilities that may come along with being in a relationship?
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

6. Case Study #1
Nick and Mike want to get married, live in an apartment, and eventually adopt a child. Nick’s staff says he does not think he should get married to a man because it is against their religion. Nick’s staff continues to talk about how bad his relationship with Mike is.
Is that a human rights violation? Why or why not?
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

7. Case Study #2
Karen and Mike are friends and enjoy hanging out with one another, including going to the movies or staying home and watching movies together at Karen’s apartment. Staff have started to limit
Mike’s time with Karen, because they are concerned they will have unprotected sex. This includes preventing Mike from traveling to Karen’s apartment.
Is that a human rights violation? Why or why not?
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

8. Case Study #3
Marie and Steven want to get married and have children together. Their families says they are not allowed to get married or have children.
Is that a human rights violation? Why or why not?
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

9. With Gratitude to SARTAC & AIDD
“This publication is supported in part by a cooperative agreement from the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities policy.”
This toolkit was created with the help of the DC Department on Disability Services and Project ACTION!.
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

10. About SARTAC
“The Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) seeks to strengthen the self-advocacy movement by supporting self advocacy organizations to grow in diversity and leadership. The resource center is a project of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), the oldest national self-advocacy organization in the country. SARTAC is a Developmental Disabilities Project of National Significance, funded by the Administration For Community Living  – Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD). The information in this manual was written to provide guidance for self Advocates and their allies to assist in understanding policy issues affecting their lives. It is not to be used to determine a person's legal rights or an organization's legal responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, as amended or any other federal, state or local laws written to protect the rights of people with disabilities.”
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)

11. For more information: Steven Powe at stevenpowe985@yahoo
For more information: Steven Powe at or Rebecca Salon
Thank you all so much for coming. If you have any ideas on making this training better take some time to write them down or talk to me before you leave. You can also Rebecca and I at a later date if you can think of anything.
The Right to Choose Your Relationships A Resource from the Toolkit for Serving on a Human Rights Committee by Steven Powe (May 2018)