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Article 15 : Living and Being Included in the Community

Draft Proposal

1. States Parties shall reaffirm the rights of persons with disabilities to liberty of movement, to live in the community, and the freedom to choose his or her residence. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunity to determine how, where and with whom they live.

2. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to live and to be fully included as members of the community. States Parties shall take measures to ensure that:

(a) persons with disabilities are not obliged to live in an institution or in a particular living arrangement;

(b) community services and facilities for the general population, including government housing, are available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities and are responsive to their needs.

3. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure the provision of services, including personal assistance, necessary to support persons with disabilities to live and participate in the community with choices equal to others, and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community. In particular States Parties shall ensure that:

• Persons with disabilities have access to information about community services, including support services.
• Supports are provided in a manner that recognizes the autonomy, individuality and dignity of persons with disabilities
• The support provided is consistent with the right to liberty of movement, to live in the community, and the freedom to choose his or her residence.
• Persons with disabilities have access to needed aids, devices and adaptations.

4. States Parties shall take all appropriate and effective measures to ensure the equal right of persons with disabilities to opportunities for economic development and financial independence including to rent, own or inherit property, to control their own financial affairs, and to have equal access to bank loans, mortgage and other forms of financial credit.