Summarizes lessons learned from listening to individuals with disabilities at the fourth National Self-Advocacy Conference, "The Beat Goes On: Rhythms of the Self-Advocacy Movement." Discusses the views of the organization, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered, which addresses ways to support people who are in institutions and specific strategies for…

Four recommendations are provided for developing self-advocacy in individuals with mental retardation, to support national and local advocacy organizations. Guidelines include making specific and concrete recommendations, expressing one's needs, appreciating all stakeholders' limits, and appreciating that change is often slow. (PB)

This article discusses attributes of healthy human service systems and the importance of strong sexual self-advocacy by people with disabilities. It outlines how negative attitudes can have traumatizing effects on people with disabilities and argues that by developing positive attitudes a new era of healthy sexual development can begin. (Contains…

The nature of existing professional approaches to working with people with mental handicaps is explored, focusing on traditional medical and educational approaches and emerging styles including self-advocacy and normalization. Development of a range of lifestyle opportunities for people with mental handicaps is supported, and implications for…

Opinions of professionals from 16 agencies were obtained to identify techniques that agencies serving adults or adolescents with mental retardation could utilize to provide systematic sex education and counseling. Recommendations are offered in five areas: self-advocacy and self-determination, individual design, staff training and support,…

This commentary discusses whether the American Association on Mental Retardation should change its name. The history of the term "mental retardation" is reviewed and it is argued that any new term will take on similar risks. The need to involve self-advocates in any terminology change is stressed. (Contains 5 references.) (CR)

This monograph presents 15 position statements of The Arc, a national organization for persons with mental retardation. A preamble presents the organization's Mission Statement. Principles and assumptions stressing the uniqueness of all people and the importance of a sense of control over one's destiny are listed. The position statements are then…

This compilation of position statements of the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) describes what the Association believes on critical issues related to rights, treatment, services, and programs for children and adults with mental retardation and their families. This publication contains positions that the Board of Directors of ARC of the…