People with autism should share the same rights and privileges enjoyed by all of the European population where such are appropriate and in the best interests of the person with autism.

These rights should be enhanced, protected, and enforced by appropriate legislation in each state.

The United Nations declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons (1971) and the Rights of Handicapped Persons (1975) and other relevant declarations on Human rights should be considered and in particular, for people with autism the following should be included:

INTRODUCTION

1. THE RIGHT of people with autism to live independent and full lives to the limit of their potential;

2. THE RIGHT of people with autism to an accesible, unbiased and accurate clinical diagnosis and assessment.

3. THE RIGHT of people with autism to accessible and appropriate education.

4. THE RIGHT of people with autism (and their representatives) to be involved in all decisions affecting their future; the wishes of the individual must be, as far as possible, ascertained and respected.

5. THE RIGHT of people with autism to accessible and suitable housing

6. THE RIGHT of people with autism to the equipment, assistance and support services necessary to live a fully productive life with dignity and independence

7. THE RIGHT of people with autism to an income or wage sufficient to provide adequate food, clothing, accommodation and the other necessities of life.

8. THE RIGHT of people with autism to participate, as far as possible, in the development and management of services provided for their wellbeing.

9. THE RIGHT of people with autism to appropriate counselling and care for their physical, mental and spiritual health; this includes the provision of appropriate treatment and medication administered in the best interests of the patient with all protective measures taken.

10. THE RIGHT of people with autism to meaningful employment and vocational training without discrimination or stereotype; training and employment should have regard to the ability and choice of the individual.

11. THE RIGHT of people with autism to accessible transport and freedom of movement.

12. THE RIGHT of people with autism to participate in and benefit from culture, recreation and sport.

13. THE RIGHT of people with autism of equal access to and use of all facilities, services and activities in the community.

14. THE RIGHT of people with autism to sexual and other relationships, including marriage, without exploitation or coercion.

15. THE RIGHT of people with autism (and their representatives) to legal representation and assistance and to the full protection of all legal rights.

16. THE RIGHT of people with autism to freedom from fear or threat of unwarranted incarceration in psychiatric hospitals or any orther restrictive institution.

17. THE RIGHT of people with autism to freedom from abusive physical treatment or neglect.

18. THE RIGHT od people with autism to freedom from pharmaceutical abuse or misuse.

19. THE RIGHT of access of people with autism (and their representatives) to all information contained in their personal, medical, psychological, psychiatric and educational records.

List of Members who signed

Presented at the 4th Autism-Europe Congress, Den Haag, May 10th, 1992.

Adopted as a Written Declaration by the European Parliament on May 9th, 1996.

Declaration on the rights of people with autism.

The European Parliament,

A . noting that at least 1,000,000 citizens within the EU are affected by autism, which is a mental disability, and that people with autism can have impairments in communication, social contact and emotions, which can affect all senses including touch, smell and sight,

B . bearing in mind its resolutions on the human rights of disabled people, the rights of people with mental handicap, and the Disabled People’s Parliament ; bearing in mind also the UN Declaration on the Rights of People with Mental Handicap 1971 and 1975, the European Union’s third action programme on disability and the Charter for Persons with Autism,

1 . Calls on the Institutions of the Union and the Member States to recognize and implement the rights of people with autism ;

2 . Points out that people with autism should have the same rights enjoyed by all EU citizens (where such are appropriate and in the best interest of the person with autism) ; these should be enhanced and enforced by appropriate legislation in each Member State and include :

(a) the right to live independently ;

(b) the right to representation and involvement as far as possible in decisions affecting their future ;

(c) the right to accessible and appropriate education, housing, assistance and support services ;

(d) the right to freedom from fear, threat and from abusive treatment ;

3 . Instructs its President to forward this declaration to the Institutions of the Union and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

Schedules

Schedules to the basic Charter which was presented by the International Association Autism Europe at its Congress at The Hague, Holland, May 10th 1992.