‘Disability Rights, Human Rights,

and The Provision of Behaviour Support Services in

Australia’

Presented by Erin Leif

In 2006, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Developed in collaboration with people with disabilities, the purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities. However, people with disability still struggle to access appropriate communication, education, healthcare, recreation, and employment. Although behaviour analysts and behaviour support practitioners often work directly with people with disabilities and their families, few descriptions of a human rights-based approach to the provision of behaviour support services have been published or provided.

In this presentation, Dr Leif will provide an overview of the CRPD and human rights model of disability, why the CRPD is important to all behaviour analysts and behaviour support practitioners who provide services to people with disability and describe practical ways that practitioners can align their professional practice with a human rights-based model of disability. There will be opportunities for questions and discussion following the presentation.