Collection: Documents - Catalog Card

EXCERPT: To a very considerable extent, the strengths and weaknesses of educational, vocational and treatment programs for retarded children will rest on prevailing community attitudes. There is little use in training a retarded child with painstaking effort to become socially adept and responsive, if misinformed, fearful neighbors will have their children shun him and make him the outcast of the neighborhood. There is little use in teaching a retarded youth work habits, independence in getting about and occupational skills, if misguided townspeople, haunted by old wives tales and superstitions, refuse even to consider that a mental handicap, too, can be partially overcome. I hope your Commission will give close study to the need for educating the public regarding mental retardation and that you will see fit to come forth with specific recommendations in that area....