Human rights committees are often called HRC for short.
Each county board of developmental disabilities and each intermediate care facility must have an HRC of their own or in collaboration with another county board or provider.
HRCs are local groups of professionals and volunteers who provide independent oversight in matters related to the rights of people with developmental disabilities. Their main role is to safeguard the rights of people with developmental disabilities and protect them from physical, emotional, and psychological harm.
HRCs review, approve or reject, monitor, and reauthorize behavioral support strategies that include restrictive measures. Plans that contain restrictive measures cannot be implemented by providers before they are approved by an HRC.
Human rights committee are comprised of at least four people. They must include at least one person who receives developmental disabilities services or is eligible to receive them and one person who has either experience or training in contemporary practices for behavioral support.
Committees must have balanced representation of people who receive or are eligible to receive services or their family members or guardians and county boards of developmental disabilities or service providers.
Committee Member Training
Human Rights Committee members must complete an initial training when appointed to a Human Rights Committee and annual training every 12 months.
Record of completed training will be kept by the intermediate care facility or county board of developmental disabilities facilitating the work of the committee.
New HRC members should complete the Behavioral Support Strategies that include Restrictive Measures course in DODD MyLearning.
Current members can fulfill annual training requirements by watching one of the recorded webinars available from in DODD's Human Rights Committee YouTube playlist.
