CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LANDMARKS
1983
A landmark case for the rights of the
developmentally disabled, "Re: R.D",
decides that a young boy named Stephen
Dawson should not be denied a
life-saving operation although his parents
argued against him having it. The
court saw the "sanctity of life" as the
predominant value to be embodied in this
decision. This decision strengthened the
rights of all disabled people.
Another disability rights case was "Clark v.
Clark" which involved a person
with cerebral palsy who asserted the right
to live freely outside an institutional
setting. The Court found him to be mentally
competent and capable of living
independently despite his physical
condition. This decision reinforced the right
to personal autonomy for people with severe
physical disabilities.
The Canadian Human Rights Comission Page
http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/Promotion/Hydra/landmark.asp?l=e
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