POLICY STATEMENT
People
with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities must be able to
live the lives they choose and have a good quality of life.
ISSUE
Our constituents
often do not have the services, supports, and personal relationships they need
to lead a full life in the community. Many are unemployed or underemployed.
People encounter public policy and other barriers that keep them from
choosing where they live and work. Moreover,
they often lack opportunities to participate in and contribute to their
communities.
POSITION
A good quality of life exists for our constituents when they:
 | Receive the support, encouragement, opportunity and
resources to explore and define how they want to live their lives. |
| Choose and receive the services and supports that
will help them live meaningful lives. |
| Direct the services and supports they receive. |
| Lead a life rich with friendships. |
| Have their rights, dignity and privacy protected. |
| Are allowed to take risks in their choices. |
| Are assured of health and safety. |
Public agencies, private organizations, and individuals providing services and supports must:
| Be responsible and accountable
to individuals and their families. |
| Continuously improve their
efforts to support individuals in leading meaningful lives. |
·
Be recognized when they
make meaningful contributions to the quality of life for individuals.
·
Be replaced when they
fail to make meaningful contributions to quality of life for individuals.
·
Be part of a program of
ongoing monitoring, independent of the service provider, to ensure desired
outcomes and the satisfaction of the people served and their families.
