Fred and Lillian are adults with developmental disabilities. They are married and live in a public housing unit. They wanted to have children, but Lillian discovered that she had been sterilized when she was 11 years of age. She remembers the operation but thought it was to remove her appendix, not her uterus and ovaries. They have two rabbits, Daisy and Ducky. The housing authority rules do not allow pets, but Fred and Lillian love their rabbits and are willing to take the risk. Their friend George lives with them. He also has a developmental disability, but he has more skills than Fred and Lillian; he can read and write, and he is good with money.

George is tall and broad and quite strong. Lillian is afraid of him but Fred sees him as a role model and wants to be like him. Lately George has started blackmailing Lillian and Fred, threatening to report their rabbits to the housing authority if they do not give him half of their money each fortnight. He has told them that the housing authority will kill the rabbits and evict Fred and Lillian. Now George wants Fred to buy a car; Fred does not drive or have a licence, but George says he can drive the car to take Lillian shopping.

Fred has been to a somewhat unethical used car dealer who has signed him up on a hire purchase agreement to buy an old car. Fred does not understand the contract but has signed it. The hire purchase company is now threatening to repossess the car as Fred cannot keep up the repayments. They tell him that after the car has been repossessed he must continue to pay the instalments until the debt is cleared or they will take him to court. George has told Lillian that he will hide the rabbits for her when the housing authorities come to inspect, if she agrees to have sex with him.

Fred and Lillian have approached a disability advocacy support program for assistance.

 

 

1. identify three strategies to assist Fred and Lillian to identify their needs and rights in this situation. 

2. Explain the duty of care and identify the facts in the scenario that indicate risks and are relevant to a worker's duty of care towards Fred and Lillian. 

3. Identify the duty of care issues in this case study and explain how they also raise questions about ethical considerations. 

4. Which of Fred and Lillian's rights are possibly being infringed?