On 8th October 2004, members of the Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset Forums had a "big meeting". Visiting speaker Dave Hingsburger ran a workshop, where the Forum members wrote this Bill of Rights. At the end of the session, the members felt that this message should be spread to as many people as possible; especially to other people with learning disabilities, their families, friends, carers, staff, social services... the list goes on and on.

1. The right to feel safe when going out.

- from strangers, from burglars and from bullying  

2. The right to feel safe in our own homes.

- to learn how to be safe in our home
- to feel safe from staff
- to be able to report staff when they are mean  

3. The right to confidentiality.

- when making a report it won't come back on you
- we decide who sees our life plan
- around health issues (patient - doctor)  

4. The right to relationships.

- to learn about friendships
- marriage
- engagements
- sex education  

5. The right to have feelings.

- the right to grief
- the right to be angry   

6. The right to say NO!

- bullying
- drugs or drink
- strangers
- to parents
- to staff   

7. The right to adulthood.

- make our own decisions
- to get married
- have children
- have sex
- birth control
- to vote
- to have a drink   

8. The right to live where you want to live.

- to live where you want to
- to live with who you want to  

9. The right to independence

- to make decisions
- to go out
- take care of our own stuff
- run our own business
- to choose what to do
- come and go when we want
- be the boss of our own life   

10. The right to transport

- accessible transport
- the right to learn to drive  

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