For the past several decades, Nonotuck has maintained and empowered three human rights committees across the state in an effort to protect, affirm, and honor the rights of the people we support. In addition to following accordance with Department of Developmental Services regulations, the purpose of these committees is to work together as teams to guard against the risk of these rights being violated, and to ensure that regardless of public or administrative indifference, the rights of the people we support will not be compromised. Committee members are comprised of concerned, independent citizens who volunteer their time to focus on issues from the perspective of the rights of people served by Nonotuck.
Human Rights Committees meet quarterly and are composed of a minimum of five members, at least three of whom are individuals receiving services or family members or advocates as well as a physician or nurse, attorney or law student and psychologist or at least Master’s level clinician.
Duties of the members include:
• To be educated about and familiar with the human rights of the people served.
• To review and monitor the contents of behavior modification programs, how they are developed and the process by which they are implemented and monitored.
• To investigate grievances and allegations of mistreatment.
• To review and monitor any restrictions of movements or possessions.
• To review and monitor research projects.
• To review and monitor the means by which Nonotuck informs the people served, caregivers, employees, and families of human rights.
• To review and monitor Nonotuck policy as they relate to peoples human and civil rights and with regard to DDS regulations.
• To train persons served in the exercise of their rights and to provide opportunities to exercise rights to the fullest extent of one’s capabilities and interests.
• To make recommendations to Nonotuck and the DDS to improve the degree to which human and civil rights of persons’ are envisioned and enforced.
• To ensure that Nonotuck employees, caregivers, families and the people served are informed of the purpose of the Human Rights Committee, as well as any procedures which the Committee has developed and how to access the Committee with complaints, grievances or ideas.
• To file or assist individuals to file complaints at their request.
• Use its best efforts to see that an attorney or advocate is made available to an individual on their request.
We are currently looking for volunteers in the following areas:
Western Mass Human Rights Committee: 1 Medical Professional
Central Mass Human Rights Committee: 2 Advocates
Eastern Mass Human Rights Committee: 1 Nurse
If this you are interested in this unique and meaningful volunteer opportunity please contact Grayson Fleischner at gfleischner@nonotuck.com.
Learn how Nonotuck developed a love-based ideology of care. We started our shared living program as an alternative to group homes for people with disabilities. Instead, Shared Living creates genuine life transformation for people with disabilities, as well as families and communities. The true power of caregiving is found through hospitality, authenticity, and love.
