Consent

Informed consent is an important principle of the CRPD and refers to ensure persons with disabilities have access to all necessary information, in a language and means that is understandable to them, to be able to make their own choices and decisions in their daily life (e.g. medical treatment, living arrangement, family and children etc.). Getting informed consent from any person undergoing medical or surgical procedures (or an authorised guardian) is a must, including women, men and children with disabilities.

If the standard procedures for informed consent to refer and share information cannot be satisfied because of an individual’s age, intellectual capacity or mental condition, several actions can be helpful to set up a favourable environment:

• Make sure that treatment protocols and policies are available for persons with disabilities in a simple, clear language (easy-to-read, with illustration, audio) in temporary health facilities;
• Identify sign language interpreters (consult with Disabled People‘s Organisations where possible), train them on confidentiality and consent processes, and contract them for punctual interventions;
• Cash transfer programs require sometimes that a person assign a family member, relative or another person of confidence to support him/her in receiving the cash. You need to make sure you have clear procedures in place that ensures transparency and guarantees that the cash is delivered to the designated person;
• Prepare an authorisation document, including in easy-to-read text, or Braille or explained in audio. In your filing and monitoring system, include a box to tick when this assignment is made and consent collected;
• Make sure that the team understands when such authorisation document should be used and keep a track into the beneficiary's file;
• During monitoring and evaluation, double check of its use.