Mental Retardation: The Known and the Unknown. Report of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation

摘要

Mental Retardation is a condition with which we have been living since civilization began. Although in recent years much has been accomplished to identify, treat, and sometimes eliminate certain causes of mental retardation, we are continually learning that its effects go far beyond present knowledge. There is an urgent need to determine and present what is known about mental retardation today. There is a parallel need to identify and acknowledge those areas where true knowledge does not exist, and only opinion prevails. In this book we attempt to identify what is known, and to present it in such a manner that anyone associated with or interested in mental retardation will find it readily useable. This work deals with the nature and extent of mental retardation and its social implications. It presents information related to three goals of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation: minimum occurrence of the disability, adequate and humane service systems, and assurance of full citizenship for those who are mentally retarded.