Your Rights as Tools

Peer Support Specialists Working in the CMH System

Rights: Definition

"The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and by subsequent acts of Congress, including civil liberties, due process, equal protection of the laws, and freedom from discrimination."

Representation: Definition

1. The act of representing or the state of being represented.2. Something that represents, as:

1.An image or likeness of something.2.An account or statement, as of facts, allegations, or

arguments.3.An expostulation; a protest.4.A presentation or production, as of a play.

3. The state or condition of serving as an official delegate, agent, or spokesperson.

4. The right or privilege of being represented by delegates having a voice in a legislative body.

5. A body of legislators that serve on behalf of a constituency.

Discrimination in the Workplace

Potential Tools

• ADA  for MI @  http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/psych.html• PWDCRA @  http://bit.ly/aINJj2•  Section 504 @ http://bit.ly/dpf3WG• Elliot-Larsen Act (not disability specific) @ http://bit.ly/aINJj2•  CMH ADA Coordinator• Internal CMH Policies and Procedures• Alternative Dispute Resolution @ http://bit.ly/cg4HvY• Informal Negotiation

The ADA Definition of Disability

Limits

Getting a Job

On the Job

After the Job

Filing a Complaint

• File with EEOC @ Detroit Field Office http://bit.ly/aZGD3G• Within 180 days of act• If EEOC agrees with you, you get a "Right to Sue" letter

which you can take to court• Call 1-800-669-4000 by voice to be connected to the office

closest to you or 1-800-669-6820 for TTY • You can't file online, but you can fill out a form and get an

assessment of your claim, then use the form to help you file a claim.  See https://egov.eeoc.gov/eas/

Asking for Accommodations

• Time for therapy (medical or personal)• Rest or alone time•  Change in schedule to maximize your capabilities• Change in breaks or meals to accommodate medication•  Transportation support• Software reminder system on phone or computer

How to Think About Discrimination

Special Issues

• Multiple Personality• Service Animals• Assistive Technology• Trauma reactions• Membership in multiple protected groups• The tactics of filing complaints

Multiple Personality

Service Animals

Service animal means any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability including, but not limited to guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) clearly states that proof of "certification" cannot be required by any facility or business for legal access if you meet the requirements for a person with a legal disability, and your dog meets the requirements of a service animal.Take hold of the leash and move forward!

 from Amy Sieniarecki, CPSS

Assistive Technology

Trauma Reactions

Multiple Protected Groups

Complaint Tactics

Resources

• Class on the ADA @ http://bit.ly/cR06j8•  Accommodations During Application @ http://bit.ly/bzg860•  The ADA and Women's Mental Health @ http://bit.ly/bSzpuw• JAN: Job Accommodation for PTSD @ http://bit.ly/cROQSa •  JAN: Accommodations for Cognitve @ http://bit.ly/cyU58f•  JAN: Accommodations for Psychiatric @ http://bit.ly/cyU58f•  JAN: Accommodations for Chemical Sensitivity @ 

http://bit.ly/ao1PZ9

Your Presenter

Name: Norm DeLislePosition:  Director, MDRCEmail: ndelisle@prosynergy.orgTwitter: http://twitter.com/mdrcngdBlogs:Norman Learned at http://normdelisle.posterous.comLTC Reform athttp://ltcreform.posterous.comRecovery Michigan athttp://recoverymi.posterous.com

Last Thoughts

Blessed are the men and womenwho are planted in your earth, in your garden,who grow as your trees and flowers grow,who transform their darkness to light.-—The Odes of Solomon

Thanks For Your Participation!