This article explores social policy developments in the arena of intellectual and developmental disabilities. It begins by summarizing the challenges facing persons with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers in 1945. Families depended on a patchwork of over-crowded and under-funded large state institutions. Children with intellectual…

The ongoing debates about the future of social insurance programs such as Social Security and Medicare raise questions about the public's knowledge of the history of social insurance and about the impact these programs have on millions of Americans. In general, public conversations about social policies in the U.S. tend to focus on whether or not…

This article provides comments on an article by Dunst and Bruder. Families, practitioners, researchers, and policy makers have been involved with federal and state-funded early intervention programs for children with disabilities and special health care needs for a very long time. The authors have provided valuable information to lay a stronger…

This collection consists of papers presented at a 1982 conference on policy issues in work and retirement. Presented first is an introductory overview of the problems of retirement and aging by Herbert S. Parnes. The following conference reports are included in the volume: "Life without Work: Does It Make Sense?" by Eli Ginzberg;…

This first volume of three of the final report of the 1981 White House Conference on Aging contains the response to the congressional charge to the Conference that the final report propose a national policy on aging not only for the minority who need aid but also for the majority of older adults who live in comfort and security. The report is…

The 1981 White House Conference on Aging, particularly the 50 State Conferences on Aging, generated over 1,500 pages of data on aging, addressing over 3,000 issues. To summarize the information from the 16 Technical Committee reports, a conceptual framework was used which focused on the well being of older people in three dimensions - health,…

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should take actions in four critical areas in order to serve the millions dependent on it for benefit payments and services. First, HHS should improve departmental management by investing in department-wide planning, its personnel, and its financial and information management. HHS can eliminate…

At this hearing on abolishing poverty among older Americans, 11 witnesses testified regarding the needs of elderly and disabled Americans. Of particular concern was the efficacy of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income as programs to reduce poverty and the special concerns of elderly blacks. Most witnesses spoke about the negative…

This report describes the nation's progress in advancing public policies to increase the inclusion, empowerment, and independence of people with disabilities of all ages consistent with the vision of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The report covers the period of November 1, 1998 through November 19, 1999. It reviews federal policy…

The National Council on Disability (NCD) held a National Summit on Disability Policy on April 27-29, 1996 at which 300 grassroots disability leaders gathered to discuss how to achieve independence in the next decade. Following an analysis of disability demographics and disability rights and culture, disability policy is assessed in 11 areas:…