Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS) Statement of Philosophy
OLRS believes that advocacy means to plead the cause of another, as defined by that other, because that other is not listened to in his or her own right. As an advocacy agency, OLRS believes that its duty is to advocate the ultimate right, which is the right to make a choice and to have that choice heard and considered.
OLRS believes that people have the right to pursue their individual hopes, dreams and goals. People with disabilities are equally entitled to pursue those hopes, dreams, and goals as persons not so labeled. Still, the personal autonomy and opportunities of persons with disabilities are limited through the imposition of labels by a society fearful of perceived differences. OLRS seeks to enhance and protect personal autonomy as people with disabilities strive to become free from the isolated status they are forced to occupy.
OLRS believes that people with disabilities have a right to control their own bodies, lives and pursuits of happiness — just as those not so labeled — and that no one should interfere with that right; that incompetence or inability to make decisions in their own interest is assumed inappropriately when people have disabilities; that all persons, including those persons with disabilities, have a right to the "dignity of risk," and the right to make both good and bad choices for themselves and for their lives; that anyone who would interfere with the right of personal autonomy and choice must do so only after a thorough and complete showing of legitimate reasons why he or she should be allowed to interfere and only after the person with a disability has had a meaningful chance to show why it should be otherwise.
OLRS believes that people with disabilities have a right to access services that will give them opportunities to obtain assistance, treatment, habilitation and/or care in a manner most conducive to dignity, in a manner least restrictive of their personal choice and autonomy, and in a manner most likely to enhance their ability to live in a way they feel most closely approximates optimal living situations.
OLRS believes that persons without disabilities could, at any time, find themselves disabled due to circumstances beyond their control. Therefore, all the rights, inalienable or granted, of people with disabilities are actually rights of all people and should be protected and advocated vigorously.
OLRS believes it is the rights that should be protected by an advocate, not the person. Hence OLRS, as an advocate, will not operate as a protector or guardian of a person with disabilities. Nor will OLRS represent the wishes of a guardian or parent when they are in conflict with the expressed wishes of the ward or child being represented. OLRS will advise and present options to persons being represented in order to assist them in making their own informed choices. However, OLRS at all times will represent the choices of people with disabilities in order to give them a voice in the matters that are affecting their lives.
OLRS recognizes that some persons are unable to articulate their choices, dreams, hopes, and desires in traditional ways that are understandable by others, such as by talking and/or writing, etc. Therefore, OLRS will make every attempt to communicate, by any means necessary, with persons with disabilities in order to ascertain their choices. Crying to voice unhappiness or smiling to voice pleasure or agreement could be examples of these communication alternatives.
OLRS staff recognizes its limitations in communication in some circumstances. However, where the rights of people with disabilities are being threatened to the point that OLRS feels it should intervene despite inability to ascertain those persons' choices in the matter, OLRS will act to protect personal autonomy and maximize the opportunity for choice in a continuum of services in as wide a range of settings as possible.
Ohio Legal Rights Service does not discriminate in provision of service or employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, military service, disability, or age.
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Statement last updated June 7, 2004
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