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Personal Privacy at Home
People who use AAC and who have physical disabilities may
have a number of people who provide them with daily services and care
and who have access to their living space. At times it may be challenging
to exercise one’s right to privacy, especially if staff have other
people they work with in the building and are on a pre-booked schedule.
Knowing and exercising the right to personal privacy is fundamental in
learning safeguarding skills to reduce the risk of victimization.
The majority of the participants in this project wanted to
learn more about ways ensure their privacy.
ACCPC takes no responsibility for any of the suggestions listed
here. These suggestions are intended to highlight issues that can be customized
for an individual. We ask that you share your ideas with us so that we
can in turn share them with other AAC users. Contact
Us with Your Ideas
Issues for People who use AAC 
- Like everyone, people who use AAC want privacy at certain times.
- People who use AAC often report that their privacy is violated by
people who enter their space without knocking; impose services at inconvenient
times; talk about their private lives to others; look at and read their
mail and private correspondence etc.
- People who use AAC may need to remind others about their right to
privacy particularly in situations where staff might not be in the habit
of knocking before entering or in situations where there may be little
flexibility within service schedules.
- People who use AAC may need vocabulary to communicate about their
privacy needs.
- People who use AAC may need support in exercising their right to privacy
if this is not something that they have experienced in their lives.
Tips for Ensuring Your Privacy
at Home
The following suggestions have been made by people who use
AAC:
- Put a sign on your door that says: Please knock before you enter.
- Tell staff that you would like them to knock before they enter.
- Tell the manager that you want all staff to knock before they enter
your room.
- If a person enters without knocking, tell them you want them
to knock next time.
- Give familiar staff time to get used to your new request. Remind them
and repeat the message as many times as needed.
- Know that you have the right to privacy.
- Be comfortable asking people to respect your privacy.
- Have a recognizable knock so that you know who it is before you communicate
that they can enter.
- Know specific times that people will arrive, so you can expect them.
- Have a clear vocalization, programmed phrase or signal that tells
someone they may enter.
- Have a clear vocalization, programmed phrase or signal that tells
someone not to come in.
- Have attendants come at appointed times.
- Use call bells/buzzers/intercoms to request assistance when you need it.
- If you are not expecting someone, have a way to find out who is at
the door; tell the person to check in with the front office or reception
and/or tell the person to go away.
- Have a peep-hole in your door at a level you can see.
- Have a security camera to see who is outside.
- Have a door opener or way to open and close your door.
- Ask person to close and lock door behind them when they leave.
- Door openers/closers
- Monitors
- Computer security
- Security alarms
Phrases to Communicate about
Your Privacy
You may want to communicate with your attendant or family
member about your privacy at home.
You can choose to have a prepared list of instructions or individual phrases.
Suggested Phrases:
You may want to:
- Choose a message you want to use.
- See if you can communicate this message in an effective and efficient
way.
- Decide if you want to have it added to your device or display.
- Decide how you want the message represented:
- You may want to discuss how and when you would use the message.
- You may want to practice using it.
The following vocabulary items have been suggested
by people who use AAC:
- "Please knock before you enter my room/home."
- "Why are you here?"
- "I wasn’t expecting you."
- "This isn’t a good time."
- "Can you come back later?"
- "Please call me before you come by."
- "I will call you when I need you."
- "I would like to be alone."
- "I would like some privacy."
- "I don’t feel like company right now."
- "I’d like to be alone for a while."
- "Please shut my door."
- "Please respect my privacy."
- "Who’s there?"
- "Please check in at the front office."
- "Please go away or I will call the police."
Communication Support
Sample Communication Displays
Picture Displays
The following displays use Mayer-Johnson's Boardmaker v5.x software. If you want to edit or print any of these displays you will need this software.
Text Displays
The following displays use Microsoft Word software. If you want to edit or print any of these displays you will probably need this software.
Practice Scenarios
- You have put a sign on the door asking people to knock before they
enter your room. One attendant has ignored it. She says that you and
she are good friends and there’s nothing you would do that would
shock her! What would you say or do?
- You live with your family and your mother is offended when you tell
her that you would like her to knock on your door before entering. You
are 33 years of age and want your privacy to be respected. You are afraid
of hurting her feelings.
- You are not expecting anyone but someone is knocking on your door.
What would you say or do?
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