Human Rights

This chapter examines the relationship between human rights and the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, highlighting the shift from a medical or deficit-based model to a rights-based and person-centered perspective. It discusses the main international frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as fundamental to ensuring equality, autonomy, and social inclusion. The authors emphasize the importance of recognizing the full citizenship of persons with disabilities and promoting their participation in decision-making processes that affect their lives. The chapter explores how human rights principles can guide assessment, care, and policy, fostering dignity and self-determination. It also underscores the role of professionals, institutions, and communities in translating rights into effective practice through advocacy, accessibility, and integrated services. Ultimately, the chapter calls for a cultural transformation that moves beyond protection toward empowerment and genuine inclusion.