Rights Assessment
In September of 2019, Assisted Independence received accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership
(CQL). Accreditation involves a long process of submitting to rules and regulations set forth by the State of Indiana, in
particular, the Bureau of Disability Services (BDS). Although the state-controlled direction of our organization as a state
contracted entity presents unnecessary challenges, often distracting our attention from supporting individuals, the mandated
accreditation process that is required to deliver Direct Support services, surprisingly provided a unique perspective on
promoting individual rights, not just for individuals with disabilities, but for all stakeholders.
Therefore, Assisted Independence developed a template to assess an individual’s understanding of rights, as well as
discover infringements upon individual rights. In collaboration with the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), the Rights
Assessment asks pressing questions about rights.
Because of the seriousness and exquisite nature of the questions, the Rights Assessment is not intended as an initial
assessment. Rather, the Rights Assessment is only to be administered after a minimum of six months of Recreational Therapy.
The Rights Assessment is designed only for individuals aged 16 years old and older. Minors’ rights belong to the family, which
is the most important unit of society. Special instructions exist for the administering of the Rights Assessment. Important to
note, the Rights Assessment is to be delivered in a private, one-on-one setting, without any time constraints. The Recreational
Therapist should have a solid rapport with the individual supported, confident that a trustworthy relationship exists.
Before conducting the Rights Assessment, the Recreational Therapist should recall orientation training. Specifically,
the orientation training focused on protecting an individual from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Although the Rights
Assessment is designed not merely to detect abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases, the Rights Assessment may reveal cases
about abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Therefore, remember the reporting procedures.
