President's Committee on 

Mental Retardation: 

A Historical Review 1966-1986

Prepared by: 

Fred J. Krause, Former Executive Director, PCMR and PCMR Ad Hoc Committee Members 
A Preface 

Over the past three decades, we have witnessed 

many accomplishments in the field of mental retardation. In the 1950's, in response to the social activism 

of families and professionals concerned with the condition of mental retardation, the Department of 

Health, Education, and Welfare established the 

Secretary's Committee on Mental Retardation. This 

was the first emerging effort to coordinate Federal activities in mental retardation. 

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the 

President's Panel on Mental Retardation, which 

resulted in the involvement of the executive and 

legislative branches in setting policies and establishing 

new programs. Federal initiative was matched by the 

fifty States as governors and their administrators 

followed the lead of President Kennedy. 

Since 1966, the President's Committee on Mental 

Retardation has been successful in meeting its objectives through coordination of all three branches of 

government. In addition, it has encouraged advocacy 

organizations to keep the rights of people with mental 

retardation in the foreground. During the decade of 

the 1970's to the present, considerable activities have 

taken place under the leadership of the President's 

Committee on Mental Retardation. The results of this 

collaboration between government, voluntary, individual and community efforts, and the private sector are reported, in this publication. 

It is hoped that this historical account will be 

helpful to future members of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation, State Developmental 

Disabilities Councils, Associations for Retarded 

Citizens, and to the many voluntary and charitable 

groups whose contributions are an everyday event. 

Today the field of mental retardation is entering a 

period of change, with greater community involvement and awareness, and the development of closer 

alliances between organizational interests. Because of 

this, we feel an historical account is timely—one that 

will provide both background and direction for future 

accomplishments. 

Acknowledgement 

In 1986, the President's Committee on Mental 

Retardation will commemorate its twentieth anniversary. In preparation for this, the committee members 

requested a report outlining the history of the committee. This account highlights the major accomplishments since the initial President's Panel on 

Mental Retardation. 

The contributions of all committee members have been 

impressive under the able leadership of Chairpersons 

Leonard W. Mayo, George Tarjan, M.D., Vice 

Chairperson, Robert Aldrich, M.D., Congressman Clair 

Burgener, Lorraine Beebe, Henry Cobb, Ph.D., Herbert 

Cohen, M.D., Elsie Helsel, Ph.D. and most recently 

Albert L. Anderson, D.D.S. 

The assistance of members, staff, and colleagues 

has been invaluable in documenting this history of the 

President's Committee on Mental Retardation 

(PCMR). Their expertise and dedication have contributed significantly to establishing the authenticity 

of this report. Major credit is given to PCMR 

member Marguerite Shine, whose encouragement to 

the author helped make this project a reality. 

Many of the PCMR staff were important assistants, particularly Nancy Borders and Helen Caldwell, as well as the public affairs staff of PCMR. 

The history of PCMR is, in fact, a product of 

everyone who has served on the President's Committee on Mental Retardation since 1966, including staff 

and consultants. 

Finally, my appreciation to my wife and family, 

whose understanding and assistance were exceptional. 

Fred J. Krause 

2 
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 

The President 

The White House 

Washington, D.C. 20500 

Dear Mr. President: 

It is an honor to submit an historical account of the President's 

Committee on Mental Retardation. This report acknowledges the cooperation 

of Federal and state officials, and literally thousands of people in every 

state who have responded to the leadership of the President's Committee 

on Mental Retardation. 

The history of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation 

demonstrates the impact the Committee has had on social, educational, 

and rehabilitation policies, and the significant contributions made 

towards the prevention and amelioration of mental retardation. This 

document provides an encouraging demonstration of public and private 

sector collaboration, which will continue to influence our society to be 

more accepting and responsive to our citizens who are mentally 

retarded. 

We appreciate your leadership and the support you have provided, and 

we look forward to working together for continued progress in the future. 

Sincerely, 

Otis R. Bowen, M.D. 

Secretary 

3 
THE WHITE HOUSE 

WASHINGTON 

September 7, 1984 

I want to thank all the members of the President's Committee on Mental 

Retardation for your efforts on behalf of a group of American citizens who have 

difficulty in representing themselves. 

You have served our six million mentally retarded citizens well. Your actions in 

drawing attention to the special problems that would be created by changes in 

regulations affecting them, and of our need to support specific legislation, speak 

well of your concern. These positions correspond with my Administration's 

policies. 

Your continuing support of this Administration on many important issues is 

greatly appreciated. The report to me calling for the private sector to recognize 

the wisdom in employing mentally retarded workers was not only a service to 

them and potential employers; it was a service to all Americans. 

Now, once again, you are proving how important your efforts are. The theme of 

your current meeting, "Mental Retardation Awareness," calls upon all Americans to 

assist our efforts to combat the causes and effects of mental retardation. The 

American people are being asked to support appropriate services and to accept 

mentally retarded people as an integral part of our society. For those goals, you 

have my complete support. 

Nancy and I send you our best wishes for every future success. 

Ronald Reagan 

4 
History of President's Committee on Mental Retardation

Background 

President John F. Kennedy signing P.L. 88-164. Major legislation for persons with mental retardation.

he foundation of the President's Committee on 

Mental Retardation was established in 

October, 1961, when President John F. 

Kennedy announced the formation of the 

Presidential Panel on Mental Retardation. The 

panel of distinguished Americans, led by its 

chairman, Leonard Mayo, launched a plan to 

respond to the President's charge to review the 

status of programs for persons with mental 

retardation. Eunice Kennedy Shriver served as a 

special consultant and liaison between the panel 

and the White House. With the cooperation of 

several Federal departments and agencies, the 

intensive investigation took many of the panel 

members into every region of the United States, 

as well as into various other countries, including T Russia, England, Denmark and Sweden. 

The President's Panel on Mental Retardation 

published its report, A Proposed Program for National Action to Combat Mental Retardation, in 

1962. This report, with three supporting documents 

by the Task Forces on Education and Rehabilitation, 

Behavioral and Social Research, and Law, constituted a major milestone in the history of mental 

retardation in the United States; nothing on this scale 

had been done before. The panel's plan of action, as 

laid out in that report, represented a unique effort by 

twenty-seven committee members of diverse 

background and wide experience. It included the 

5 
findings from a series of public hearings (planned by 

Leonard Mayo and Eunice Shriver) in several parts 

of the country, intended to provide broad public 

input before the report to the President was 

submitted. In response to the President's charge, 

the panel completed its work in two days less than 

the year it had set for itself. (See Appendix A for a 

list of members.) 

The chronology for implementing the proposed 

program of national action included the following 

highlights: 

October 1961—The President's Panel appointed. 

October 1962—Panel report submitted to the 

 President: A Proposed Program for Na-

 tional Action to Combat Mental 

 Retardation.

December 1962—Dr. Stafford Warren appointed 

Special Assistant to the President on 

Mental Retardation. 

February 1963—Presidential Message to Congress on 

mental health and mental retardation. 

February 1963—Four bills introduced in both houses 

of Congress representing the first 

phase of implementation of major 

recommendations. 

June 1963—Initial approach to Advertising Council 

for a national campaign on mental 

retardation (carried out in 1964-1967 

with funding support from the National Association for Retarded 

Citizens, the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., 

Foundation, and the Department of 

Health, Education, and Welfare). 

September 1963—White House Conference on Mental 

Retardation; participants included 

representation from state governments, as well as leaders in the field. 

October 1963—Major legislation for mental retardation 

planning, program development and 

construction. Public Law 88-156 and 

88-164 signed into law. 

The President's Panel saw clearly the need to 

develop the entire plan of action into a cohesive, flexible, dynamic and effective attack on the total problems concerning programs for the mentally retarded 

persons in this country. To this end, the panel made 

several recommendations regarding organization, 

planning and coordination of programs. The history 

of subsequent Federal legislation to implement these 

recommendations during the administrations of 

Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon is an interesting and significant story, detailed in the PCMR 

Report MR 76• Mental Retardation Past and Present. 

State Responses 

It is noteworthy that state planning and organization of services was a first priority of the Secretary of 

Health, Education and Welfare. The Secretary was 

authorized to make grants to states for comprehensive planning in mental retardation. This was the 
substance of Public Law 88-156 and Planning 

Amendments of 1964 and 1965, and resulted in comprehensive plans being submitted by fifty-three 

jurisdictions on an appropriation of $2.2 million 

dollars. 

The governors of every State were asked to 

review the array of major services relating to mental 

retardation outlined in the President's Panel 

Report. In order to qualify for Federal funds, the 

States were further required to establish an interdepartmental mechanism for joint planning and 

coordination. Each State carried out these 

recommendations in the process of planning and in 

the subsequent development of a wide variety of 

organizational models. The State planning 

processes emerged with a common 

characteristic of moving toward a coordination of 

human service programs for individuals with mental 

retardation in every State of the union. 

President's Committee on Mental 

Retardation is Formed 

As the panel's recommendations began to be implemented, it was becoming obvious that some 

overview and coordination of the public and private 

effort in mental retardation on a continuing 

basis was necessary. This coordination could not 

come solely from government sources, nor could 

it come only from the private sector. Clearly a 

combination of the two would be required for 

mobilizing and coordinating the wide variety of 

interests. The original initiatives undertaken by the 

Office of the Assistant to the President for Mental 

Retardation had been crucial in the formulation and 

passage of basic legislation. • Now, however, a new 

vehicle was needed to mold national forces into a 

representative alliance of government and private 

citizens who could provide an ongoPresident Lyndon B. Johnson with National Association for Retarded Citizens Poster Child. 

7 
ing forum to underscore the need for greater wellbeing of persons with mental retardation. President 

Lyndon B. Johnson established the President's Committee on Mental Retardation by Executive Order 

11280 on May 11, 1966, signed at a White House 

ceremony. The Secretary of Health, Education and 

Welfare was named chairperson. The Secretary of 

Labor and the Directors of the Office of Economic 

Opportunity and of other Federal agencies were listed 

as ex-officio members. The main body of the committee was comprised of twenty-one citizen members appointed by the President for staggered three year 

terms. (The first Executive Order is shown at Appendix B.) 

The PCMR Executive Order set forth the following 

conditions: (1) The Department of Health, Education 

and Welfare, now the Department of Health and 

Human Services, was designated as the agency, 

"which principally shall provide the committee with 

necessary administrative services and facilities." (2) 

The post of the Executive Director was established, 

and David B. Ray, Jr., was appointed as the first Executive Director. Secretary of HEW John W. Gardner, Chairman, swore in the original committee 

members on June 22, 1966, and named the former 

Director of the National Institute of Child Health and 

Human Development, Robert A. Aldrich, M.D., as 

Vice-Chairman. Chairman Gardner challenged the 

members to, "look at the whole field and try to see 

the relative priorities," and to help design the 

strategies for progress in the mental retardation field. 

ACTIVITIES OF PCMR, 1966-1972 

The Committee Begins Work 

The minutes of the first meeting stated that Chairman Gardner enjoined the committee to criticize, to 

stimulate, to raise questions, to bring information 

from the grassroots, and to provide the broad 

perspective that every such large undertaking needs. 

The first meeting of the committee members 

established the broad goals that PCMR has held since 

that time. These included: (1) environmental and biomedical prevention; factors which cause mental retardation; (2) early recognition and treatment of the 

condition, with emphasis on special education and 

habilitation services; (3) identification of human and 

legal rights, and the attainment of these rights for 

mentally retarded citizens; and (4) greatly expanded 

public awareness as the key to realization of the goals. 

8 
Public awareness has been the fabric on which 

PCMR has woven its strategies throughout the years. 

The first PCMR publication was "The Mentally 

Retarded: Their New Hope." This booklet was 

distributed through a saturation campaign of radio, 

television, and print ads conducted by the National 

Advertising Council, and was sponsored at that time 

by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation. Between 

HEW and the National Association for Retarded 

Citizens (NARC), approximately two million 

booklets were distributed in a two-year period. 

With the mandate from the Executive Order clearly 

defining its purposes, the committee began to develop 

its strategies soon after the initial meeting. The 

PCMR began to investigate all Federal governmental 

resources, and to seek support and information from 

major national health and educational agencies. 

Public agencies, private volunteer organizations, and 

many experts in the field of mental retardation provided consultation. -- 

One of the first activities of the committee was to 

hold public forums. Through this vehicle, PCMR was 

briefed by national leaders and provided with 

valuable information from grassroot sources, 

especially from families, State and local planners and 

program managers. A series of meetings, forums, and 

site visits were conducted in 1967 and 1968 which 

took PCMR members to various cities across the 

country. 

The committee was also in contact with officials in 

Cdnada. One result, in cooperation with the Institute 

for the Study of Mental Retardation and Related 

Disabilities at the University of Michigan, was a joint 

United States-Canadian Conference on manpower 

needs in mental retardation programs held in Banff, 

Alberta, Canada, in 1969. The President's Committee 

on Mental Retardation published the proceedings in a 

booklet, "Manpower and Mental Retardation: An 

Exploration of the Issues." The First Caribbean Mental Retardation Conference was another joint venture, with a meeting held in Jamaica. A report was 

published entitled, "Mental Retardation in the Caribbean: Needs, Resources, and Approaches." 

Reaching out on a still wider scope, the first Pacific 

Forum on Mental Retardation was held in Honolulu, 

Hawaii, in September of 1971, under the sponsorship 

of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation, 

with assistance from several co-sponsors. Participants 

came from Asia and the South Pacific, including New 

Zealand, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong. A report on the 

conference was published in 1972.

The first PCMR publication.

9 
Breaking ground for the National Children’s center, White House Christmas tour for handicapped individuals with 

Washington D.C., are Commerce Sec. Peter G. Peterson, Dr. Cecil Jacobson as Santa. 

Assistant Sec. Robert A. Poolesta and two center residents 

Samantha Coffey and David Dillingham. 

 

Early Leaders and agencies; extensive support from the field; and, From 1970 to 1972, Dr. Joseph Douglass served as most importantly, the personal interest and involvethe Executive Director. Due to poor health, Dr. ment of each of our Presidents. It should be noted 

Douglass resigned in 1972, and his deputy, Fred J. that respected public figures, such as Eunice Kennedy Krause, formerly the Executive Director of the Shriver, Muriel Humphrey, Jeannette Rockefeller, California Council of Retarded Children, was named Governor Thomas J. Meskill, and Congressman Clair 

as the Executive Director. Burgener, served on the President's Committee on 

One can trace the President's Committee on Men- Mental Retardation and were always available to lend 

tal Retardation's earlier activities through the com- their help and support. 

mittee's newsletters. These were published quarterly 

through October, 1976, at which time Federal funds The support and consultation of many volunteer 

organizations, such as the American Association on 

Mental Deficiency and the Council for Exceptional 

Children, were noted in all the committee's proceedings. It would be difficult to name all the 

members of the committee who made a measurable 

were no longer authorized for Federal agency and 

committee newsletters. 

The committee's early success was due to the 

caliber of the members; the active participation of the 

Secretary of HEW as Chairman; the interest of the 

ex-officio members from other Federal departments 

10 
Secretary Elliot Richardson with PCMR Members, Congressman Clair Burgener and Executive Director 

Dr. Joseph Douglas. 

contribution, but in the early years, Leonard Mayo, 

George Tarjan, Robert Cooke, Elizabeth Boggs, and 

Eunice Kennedy Shriver served both on the 

President's Panel and the President's Committee on 

Mental Retardation, providing continuity and 

balance to the committee's deliberations. 

Major Publications 

On September 24, 1968, the committee members 

met with President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White 

House to present its second report "MR 68—The 

Edge of Change." Accepting the report, President 

Johnson drew particular attention to the report's emphasis that "three-fourths of this nation's mentally 

retarded people live in either urban or rural slums." 

He continued, "Poverty creates not only misery, but 

poverty creates mental handicaps." 

A monograph in 1968 titled "Changing Patterns in 

Residential Services for the Mentally Retarded" was 

published by PCMR. Some fourteen contributing 

authors provided the editors, Dr. Robert Kugel and 

Wolf Wolfensberger, an imaginative planning approach to residential living for mentally retarded people. The principle of normalization made an impact 

on the American scene. Many other PCMR publications followed on residential and community services. 

In 1968, the committee held a national conference 

on education problems of children in the inner city. 

The PCMR report, "The Six-Hour Retarded Child," 

was a product of the conference, and called for 

change in the special education of children in the 

public educational system. Robert Finch, HEW 

11 
Vice President Humphrey visits a class of children with 

Down Syndrome. 

Secretary and Chairman of PCMR, stressed the importance of the recommendations of those 

attending the conference; participants dealt 

with early childhood education, the family, 

teaching, labeling, educational research, school 

responsibility and com 

munity participation. These subjects became the 

targets of PCMR agenda for the early 1970's. 

In April 1970, PCMR met with President Richard 

Nixon and released the annual report, "The Decisive 

Decade." PCMR, in concert with the President's 

Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, 

published "These, Too, Must Be Equal." The report 

contained thirty-nine recommendations for 

habilitation and employment of individuals with 

mental retardation in the United States. The 

Chairman of the President's Committee on 

Employment of the Handicapped, Harold Russell, 

and Secretary Robert Finch, Chairman of PCMR, 

jointly announced actions to disseminate the 

report to all State and local vocational 

rehabilitation and employment agencies, and to the 

Governor's Committee on Employment of the 

Handicapped of each State. 

Led by Vice Chairman Clair Burgener, and later, 

Lorraine Beebe, as vice chairperson, the committee 

held conferences on early screening of newborn infants and young children. PCMR published reports 

and recommendations on these important subjects. 

Concern for Native Americans 

When Lorraine Beebe served as vice 

chairperson, she asked the committee members to 

focus attention on the problem of American Indians 

living on reservations. A subcommittee made site 

visits and met with various Indian groups. The 

Departments of Interior and Health, Education and 

Welfare signed a PCMR joint agreement of 

cooperation to improve coordination of programs 

and services, in order to better serve the special 

education, health and social service needs of 

families having children with mental retardation 

who live on Indian reservations. 

Setting Goals 

On November 16, 1971, President Nixon, after 

meeting with members of the President's 

Commission on Mental Retardation, announced 

from the White House a pledge to continue 

expansion of Federal and State programs, and 

called on the nation to pursue two major goals: 

12 

(1) To reduce by half the occurrence of mental 

retardation in the United States before the end of 

this century. 

(2) To enable one-third of the more than 200,000 

retarded persons in public institutions to return to 

useful lives in the community. 

The President stated, "These goals are realistic and 

achievable; we already have most of the knowledge and 

many of the techniques they will require, and the rest are 

within reach of research." President Nixon also directed 

the Department of Justice to take steps to strengthen 

the assurance of full legal rights for mentally retarded 

citizens. In the same statement, he directed other Federal 

departments and agencies to be energetic in their efforts, 

and to collaborate with the President's Committee on 

Mental Retardation toward these national goals. 

The Committee and staff built upon this Presidential 

statement and began to translate the President's goals 

into specific public awareness activities. The 

Committee produced films and radio announcements to 

promote community acceptance and to stress 

prevention. All executive departments and State 

agencies were asked by the PCMR chairman to 

evaluate their programs with a view to provide maximum 

support to the two goals. 

Legal Rights Movement of the 1970's 

Concurrently with the goals and initiatives growing out 

of the President's support, legal suits in six states were 

filed following the Federal court action in Alabama 

establishing standards for treatment of residents in 

state institutions. This Alabama legal action on human 

rights and standards of treatment, along with the 

Pennsylvania case on the right to education for all 

handicapped children, resulted in landmark court 

decisions that were the cornerstone of subsequent 

legislation establishing legal rights for mentally 

retarded and other disabled people. 

Under the chairmanship of Secretary Elliot Richardson, 

and later Caspar Weinberger, the President's Committee 

on Mental Retardation continued through the early 70's 

with an energetic effort to review the research, training, 

education and residential services for individuals with 

mental retardation. Simultaneously, a broad public 

awareness campaign was undertaken with regional 

forums in various parts of the country. Emphasis was 

directed toward implementation among the states of 

the Presidential goals in 1973. President Nixon sent a 

message to the first National Conference, "The Mentally 

Retarded Citizen and the Law," held in Columbus, 

Ohio.

Lawrence Kane, a Cincinnati attorney and member of 

the President's Committee on Mental Retardation, 

was Chairman for this conference sponsored by 

PCMR. It was supported by HEW funding and had 

the cooperation of Ohio State University, and 

resulted in the highly regarded publication, "The 

Mentally Retarded Citizen and the Law." At that 

time, a total of forty-four class action suits and legal 

actions were being pressed on all fronts for the 

rights of mentally retarded citizens in education, 

treatment, habilitation, and in zoning for group home 

living. 

In the decade of the 70's, a new self-advocacy 

movement, People First, began to take form. People First 

groups organized in the far West and in New England. 

Later, the organization, United Together, 

14_ 
President Nixon signing the PCMR Executive Order 

was given support and consultation by PCMR. This 

self-advocacy movement, for people who were mentally retarded and developmentally disabled, continues to grow as an active and influential group. 

PCMR's role in the legal rights of mentally retarded people has been an important one. It can be attributed to many members, with special appreciation 

to Larry Kane and David Udall, and to consultants 

Julius Cohen, Dennis Haggerty, Gunnar Dybwad, 

Michael Kindred, Paul Friedman and Stan Herr, who 

provided assistance on numerous issues. 

The committee was also able to encourage the 

American Bar Association, Juvenile Justice judges, as 

well as legal rights groups, to become active on behalf 

of the rights of people with mental retardation. 

Litigation through the Federal courts resulted in 

measures to protect the right to treatment in institutions, the right of education in public schools, and increased recognition of the right to special services for 

people with mental retardation within local, State and 

Federal correction facilities, and in the courts of law. 

Stimulated by the 1969 research of Dr. Bertram 

Brown and Dr. Thomas Courtless, the committee 

continued to provide leadership in this area of concern through many endeavors, including publishing 

several documents. The latest, a comprehensive text, 

"The Retarded Offender,” was edited by PCMR 

staff member, M. B. Santamour. A report by the 

committee, "Silent Minority," dealt with the quality 

of life for citizens with mental retardation. 

15
PCMR, 1973-1980 

"Century of Decision" 

On March 28, 1973, President Richard Nixon invited members of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation to the Oval Office for the signing of a 

new Executive Order, 11776. The committee announced plans to prepare a comprehensive long-range 

report examining the history of mental retardation in 

this century, and setting the future agenda for improvement of services for persons with mental retardation. Dr. Henry Cobb, committee member, coordinated the preparation of this major report, assisted 

by all the members, divided into key subcommittees. 

The report, "Mental Retardation: Century of Decision," was presented to President Gerald Ford at a 

meeting on October 11, 1974. President Ford issued a 

statement at that time, reaffirming our nation's commitment to the field of mental retardation. 

The report, "Century of Decision," consisted of a 

series of five publications, including, "Report to the 

President," which projected in detail the nation's 

needs in mental retardation through the Year 2000, 

and included recommendations on actions to be taken 

to meet those needs. The other volumes provided 

background support for these recommendations. The 

publication, "Mental Retardation: The Known and 

the Unknown," presented an account of the 

knowledge of mental retardation up to that time, 

pointing up the important gaps in knowledge of the 

causes and treatments of mental retardation, as well 

as gaps in data relative to mentally retarded persons 

in the United States. Another document was a 

historical publication, "Mental Retardation: Past 

and Present," prepared by Dr. Henry Cobb. Rounding out the series, "Century of Decision" was a 

report, "Trends of the States in Provisions of Mentally Retarded Persons," and a book, "Mental Retardation and the Year 2000." As a supplement to the 

series, PCMR also reviewed Federal programs and 

described the roles of approximately fifty-two of the 

programs in the provision of services to persons with 

mental retardation and other disabilities. PCMR 

defined action to be taken by organizations or agencies with major resources to enable persons with mental retardation and their families to receive needed 

services. 

White House Activities 

President Jimmy Carter came into the White House 

with national awareness of his past actions in the field 

of mental retardation while serving as Governor of 

Georgia. Mrs. Carter had a special interest in the 

broad areas of mental illness and mental retardation. 

In April, 1977, Mrs. Carter met at the Department of 

Health, Education and Welfare with members of the 

President's Committee on Mental Retardation. Expressing a high level of interest and sense of priority 

for programs of mental health and mental retardation, she asked for a detailed report on the practical 

effects of programs of prevention and treatment. 

In November of 1977, the committee, through its 

Chairman and Secretary of HEW, Joseph A. Califano, Jr., sent Mrs. Carter the report, "A Renewed 

National Commitment for the Mentally Retarded," 

containing recommendations directed to numerous 

Federal agencies. The report emphasized the need' to 

avoid unnecessary institutionalization of individuals 

with mental retardation and highlighted ways to 

strengthen mental retardation prevention programs 

through immunization against childhood diseases. In 

this report, the committee presented recommendations, as well as estimates of the budgetary impact of 

the committee's recommendations. 

That same year, the White House Conference on 

the Handicapped was conducted in Washington, 

D.C. Prior to this meeting, each state held conferences and selected delegates. Mental retardation 

was emphasized by members of PCMR, as well as by 

the ARC movement. PCMR was represented through 

the conference, and its recommendations were 

highlighted in relation to community services, improvement of health care, strengthening of special 

education for students with mental retardation, and 

through vocational education and rehabilitation 

employment programs, which would increase the 

economic usefulness of most people with mental 

retardation. The four-volume report of the White 

House Conference on the Handicapped was 

presented to President Carter. 

Spotlight on Community Programs 

The committee's activities in 1978 included 

preparation of "Mental Retardation: The Leading 

Edge, Sevice Programs That Work," a report in further response to Rosalyn Carter's request of the 

previous year. PCMR members, consultants, and 

staff prepared a compilation of service programs 

found to be working effectively. Illustrations in the 

report portrayed the warm human qualities of the 

people involved from all parts of the United States. 

The report provided the country with examples of 

public education, community services, and employment programs which demonstrated the improvement 

16 
that is possible in the quality of life for people who 

are mentally retarded. 

As a supplement to the report's publication, the 

committee held nationwide press conferences, providing certificates of achievement to those State and 

community programs that received attention through 

the report. 

The interest of the committee in community services ranged from pre-school programs, special 

education, vocational training, and workshops, to 

job placement. The committee conducted quarterly 

meetings, and the agenda frequently had deliberations on issues and policies related to community and 

residential services. 

In 1979, PCMR planning began under Herbert 

Cohen, M.D., Vice Chairman, to examine the 

delivery of community services. The University of 

Wisconsin was the site for a national conference, 

"Mental Retardation-1980—Directions for Community Services." Numerous short and long term 

strategies were formulated at the conference, attended by State mental retardation commissioners and 

Developmental Disability Council members and staff. 

Prevention 

In 1979, the committee extended its survey of "programs that work" to the area of prevention, and 

reconfirmed the high priority of effective prevention 

strategies. An international conference on prevention 

was held with the consultative participation of the 

committee. It was emphasized that mental retardation 

is America's number one health problem. The conference papers from participating countries indicated 

that each year, unless there is an intensified international prevention effort, an ever-increasing number 

of babies who are mentally retarded would be born in 

all parts of the world. The risks are not only prevalent 

in impoverished countries, but also in highly industrialized countries. 

The PCMR Subcommittee on Prevention emPCMR members at a luncheon meeting at the White House with Mrs. Jimmy Carter 

17 
barked on a study to determine the significant 

features of strategies known to be successful in 

preventing mental retardation. With the assistance of 

State and local ARC groups, PCMR toured America 

in search of health programs and medical projects implementing prevention strategies. The committee conclusions resulting from this intensive study were 

presented to President Carter in an annual report, 

"Prevention Strategies That Work". The report 

highlighted the benefits of bio-medical prevention 

through genetic counseling, prenatal and intensive 

care, and immunizations. It further emphasized the 

importance of environmental controls in preventing 

mental retardation, placing heavy emphasis on the 

multi-factoral conditions of teenage pregnancy, nutrition, and lead poisoning. 

While there are numerous existing prevention 

resources, the committee undertook efforts to 

heighten public awareness, and to emphasize the need 

for higher priorities and financing to carry out these 

effective prevention initiatives. The committee 

worked actively with the Department of Justice and 

with the Department of Health and Human Services, 

in efforts to strengthen the government's role to 

enable babies with birth defects to live, to be treated 

for their conditions, and to be assisted through 

medical treatment toward a healthier future. 

Mrs. Richard Nixon greets NARC Poster Children, their parents and Marion Smith, President of NARC. 

18 
President Reagan appoints new members ~ 1982-1984. 

PCMR: Into the 1980's 

A New Committee 

A new committee was formed in the Spring of 1982, 

with the appointment of twenty-one new committee 

members. Richard Schweiker, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, chaired the committee, and Dr. Elsie Helsel was appointed Vice 

Chairperson. In 1985, Dr. Albert L. Anderson succeeded Dr. Helsel. In 1983, Margaret Heckler succeeded Richard Schweiker as Secretary of the Department, and as Chairperson of the PCMR. In 1985, Dr. 

Otis Bowen succeeded Margaret Heckler. The nation's 

commitment to mental retardation was reaffirmed in 

December 1982, when President Ronald Reagan issued 

Executive Order 12399, in support of PCMR. 

Although the committee membership changed, the 

core subcommittee structure through which it had 

operated in the past, (Full Citizenship, Prevention, 

Family and Community Services, and Public Awareness), was retained for continuity and to facilitate 

maximum national leadership and impact. 

In addition to viewing these topics as important, 

the committee also believed that both Federal and 

State systems to provide services for citizens with 

mental retardation should be re-examined, in order to 

determine ways in which these systems could be improved. As a result, at its first meeting the new committee established a Subcommittee on Systems 

Simplification: a) to review Federal and State laws, 

regulations, and procedures; b) identify significant 

gaps, overlaps, or service delivery barriers; and c) 

make major policy recommendations for revising 

those factors found to make service delivery more 

complex or costly than necessary. The committee also 

sought to establish a more issue oriented focus in certain areas. 

In March, 1983, Fred Krause, who had served as Executive Director of PCMR since 1972, became ill and 

was replaced on an acting basis by Acting Executive 

Director, Dominic Mastrapasqua. Linda Tarr, Ph.D., 

was appointed as Executive Director in February, 1984. 

In December, 1984, Jim F. Young became Acting 

Executive Director. Susan Gleeson, R.N., M.S.N., was 

appointed Executive Director in July 1985. 

Full Citizenship 

This subcommittee became active in maintaining a 

19 
leadership role in addressing the rights of citizens with 

mental retardation. With significant input from 

families, the ARC's, advocates, and other sources, 

this subcommittee helped develop background 

materials for a number of PCMR actions. Information collection sessions of each of the initial material 

provided needed data to the committee: 

—development of policy statements for the President on the "Baby Doe" case; 

—development of a policy statement on the Education for All Handicapped Children's Act, PL 

94-142, and on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation 

Act, that influenced the White House not to support proposed changes weakening the rights of 

handicapped persons; 

—consultations with the Department of Justice on 

proposed regulations implementing Section 504 

for Federally conducted programs, and influencing the content of a supplementary notice in the 

Federal Register modifying the requirements 

regarding burden of proof; 

—implementation of a forum on the Chaffee Bill, 

SB 2053, "Community and Family Living 

Amendments of 1983;" and 

—formulation of recommendations for statutory 

and regulatory changes and private initiatives to 

meet housing needs of mentally retarded people. 

In 1983, the committee focused considerable attention 

on economic issues, with special emphasis on 

employment. Toward this end, a forum, "Community 

Forum on Employment and Mentally Retarded Persons," was held in Tucson, Arizona in October 1983. 

This forum, spearheaded by PCMR member Vicki 

Click, was to serve as a model for other communities in 

improving their own employment opportunities for 

persons with mental retardation. In support of this con- 20 
cept, PCMR plans to publish a "how-to" 

resource document for community leaders that 

details steps to be followed in conducting such 

forums. The guide provides a generic model 

forum, as well as a case study of the Tucson 

experience. 

To underscore the importance of employment, 

the 1983 annual report to the President, "The 

Mentally Retarded Worker: An Economic 

Discovery," focused on employment of 

mentally retarded persons. 

Prevention 

Prevention has continued to be a priority agenda 

item for PCMR, and this committee has continued a 

series of major conferences on various aspects of 

prevention. In September 1982, PCMR sponsored a 

forum, "National Prevention Showcase and 

Forum," in Atlanta, in cooperation with the Atlanta 

Association for Retarded Citizens. This national 

forum brought together representation from each 

state, and the Trust Territories, Guam, and Puerto 

Rico. Models of prevention programs were examined 

at State and community levels. The U.S. Surgeon 

General actively participated in this conference, emphasizing the importance of healthy mothers and 

healthy babies, and acknowledging PCMR's continuous support in alerting the medical community to 

prevention strategies that are known to be successful 

in reducing the incidence of mental retardation and 

ameliorating its effects. 

In November 1983, the committee sponsored a conference, "Assessment of the National Efforts to 

Combat Mental Retardation from Bio-Medical 

Causes," in Washington, D.C. This biomedical 

assessment was completed in May of 1984 by the 

forum, "National Open Forum on the Prevention of 

Mental Retardation from Environmental and 

Psychosocial Causes," held in Boca Raton, Florida. 

Recognizing the important role for states in the area of 

prevention, the committee has undertaken a strategy 

focusing specifically on state issues. Towards this end, 

PCMR is developing a Model State Prevention Plan 

addressing causes of mental retardation. This plan will 

be disseminated to each state and territory as a technical 

assistance resource, to be used in developing and implementing comprehensive community programming 

and services to prevent this handicapping condition. 

Finally, PCMR has sponsored the development of a 

series of publications on various aspects of prevention, 

including: 

 "Assessment of the National Effort to Combat 

Mental Retardation—Technical Proceedings" 

 "The Role of Institutions of Higher Learning in 

Prevention of Mental Retardation" (a monograph) 

 "Will You Help Your Baby's Brain Develop?" 

(a brochure) 

 "National Prevention Showcase and Forum— 

Technical Proceedings" 

Other Topics of Continued Interest 

PCMR remains active in addressing issues of mental 

retardation as they relate to the criminal justice 

system. A report, "Mental Retardation and the Law," 

has been prepared. A PCMR staff member has trained 

prison officials and staff regarding programs for offenders with mental retardation. 

PCMR works with other agencies and programs of

systems simplification have been established with 

the mutual interest. Liaison relationships 

regarding 

21 
 

Ronald Reagan, when Governor of 

California, receiving an award for state 

efforts in genetic counseling.

Departments of Housing and Urban Development, 

Justice, and Education. The interagency committee, 

Special Needs of Mentally Retarded Offenders in the 

Criminal Justice System, has been established by 

PCMR, with the Department of Justice and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). 

PCMR is represented on ADD's Employment Initiative and on the Department of Education's National Institute on Handicapped Research. The Committee is also working with the National Institute of 

Mental Health on a dual diagnosis conference, i.e., 

mental retardation and mental illness. 

PCMR has continued its major role in international 

activities. Meetings have been held with United States 

and United Nations representatives for the International Decade of the Disabled and the International 

Year on Youth. Liaison has been established with 

several international organizations, including the 

Organization of American States, World Bank, 

United States Information Agency, and the Pan 

American Health Organization. 

In May of 1984, the PCMR inaugurated its first annual scholarship award. This program received national attention, and is well on its way in attracting 

bright students into careers in the various fields of 

mental retardation. 

Conclusion 

The President's Committee on Mental Retardation 

can take pride in the list of its accomplishments and in 

its advocacy and advisory role as intermediary between the Federal government, states, localities, and 

families across the nation, in providing information, 

identifying needs, and making critical recommendations that provide a powerful influence in the course 

of improvement of life for retarded people 

everywhere. In addition, PCMR has successfully 

achieved, through its quarterly meetings and the work 

of its subcommittees, a highly significant impact on 

national policies. It has produced and assured the 

availability of many highly utilized reports. The influence of the committees has been international as 

well as national in scope, involving collaboration with 

the International League of Societies for Mentally 

Handicapped Persons, and the International Society 

for Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency, in 

numerous symposia and international studies, and in 

consultation with governments of many countries. 

The President's Committee on Mental Retardation, with the active leadership of its members and 

staff, has historically proven itself to be a highly effective voice in the field of mental retardation. And 

yet PCMR is only on the threshold; its impressive accomplishments can be considered only the prologue 

to the exciting prospects in the years ahead. 

(The best summary of PCMR's accomplishments is 

one that cites the major goals that PCMR has enunciated, and then reviews the progress made in addressing those goals. This summary is provided in Appendix C.) 

22 
Appendix A 

President's Panel on Mental 

Retardation 

Members 

Leonard W. Mayo, S. ScD., Chairman 

George Tarjan, M.D., Vice-Chairman 

David L. Bazelon, B.S.L. Lloyd M. Dunn, Ph.D Joshua Lederberg, Ph.D Wendell M. Stanley, 

Elmer H. Behrmann, Louis M. Hellman, M.D. Reginald S. Lourie, M.D. Ph.D 

Ph.D. (Msgr.) Herman E. Hilleboe, Oliver H. Lowry, Ph.D., Harold W. Stevenson, 

Elizabeth M. Boggs, M.D. M.D. Ph.D. 

W. Wallace Tudor Ph.D. Nicholas Hobbs, Ph.D Horace W. Magoun, 

Robert E. Cooke, M.D. William P. Herder, Ph.D. Henry Viscardi, Jr.,

Leonard S. Cottrell, Jr. Ph.D., M.D. Darrel J. Mase, Ph.D. LL.D. 

Ph.D. Seymour R. Kety, M.D. F. Ray Power Ernest P. Willenberg, 

Edward Davens, M.D. Irene A. Wright Anne M. Ritter, Ph.D. Ed.D. 

Consultant to the Panel: Mrs. §argent Shriver 

Appendix B 

List of Vice Chairpersons and Executive Directors: 

David Ray 

1966-1970 

Executive Directors Joseph Douglass, Ph.D. 1970-1972 

Robert Aldrich, M.D. 1966-1970 Fred J. Krause 1972-1983 

Clair Burgener 1970-1972 Dominic Mastrapasqua, Ph.D. 1983-1984 

Lorraine Beebe 1972-1976 (Acting Executive Director)

Henry Cobb, Ph.D. 1976-1979 Linda L. Tarr, Ph.D. 1984-1984 

Herbert Cohen, M.D. 1979-1981 Jim F. Young 1984-1985

Elsie Helsel, Ph.D. 1982-1984 (Acting Executive Director)

Albert Anderson, D.D.S. 1985-Present Susan Gleeson, R.N., M.S.N. 1985-Present 
Executive Order 11280 

ESTABLISHING THE PRESIDENT'S 

COMMITTEE ON MENTAL RETARDATION 

WHEREAS the Maternal and Child Health and 

Mental Retardation Planning Amendments of 1963 

and the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963 

(77 Stat. 273; 282) have established a firm statutory 

basis for combating mental retardation; and 

WHEREAS the mental retardation activities of 

Federal, State and local government agencies and 

foundations and other private organizations are expanding rapidly and require careful review in order 

that maximum benefits may be achieved; and 

WHEREAS there is a continuing need to mobilize 

the support of the general public and of specialized 

professional groups for mental retardation activities; 

and 

WHEREAS re-evaluation of existing programs to 

determine their adequacy and consideration of proposals for new mental retardation activities is 

necessary: 

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority 

vested in me as President of the United States, it is 

ordered as follows: 

SECTION 1. Committee established. There is 

hereby established the President's Committee on 

Mental Retardation (hereinafter referred to as the 

Committee). 

SEC. 2. Composition of Committee. The Committee shall be composed of the following members: 

(1) The Secretary of Health, Education, and 

Welfare, who shall be the Chairman of the Committee. 

(2) The Secretary of Labor. 

(3) The Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. 

(4) Not more than twenty-one other members 

who shall be appointed by the President from public 

or private life and may include specialists in medicine 

and other healing arts, human development, special 

education and employment problems, and members 

of foundations and other private organizations active 

in the mental retardation field. Except as the President may from time to time otherwise direct, appointees under this paragraph shall have terms as 

follows: (A) Of the members first appointed 

hereunder, the terms of seven shall expire on the first 

anniversary of the date of this Order, the terms of 

seven shall expire on the second anniversary, and the 

terms of seven shall expire on the third anniversary. 

(B) The term of each succeeding appointment shall 

expire on the third anniversary of the expiration of 

the predecessor term, except that an appointment 

made to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration 

of a term shall be made for the balance of the unexpired term. 

SEC. 3. Functions of the Committee. (a) The 

Committee shall provide such advice and assistance in 

the area of mental retardation as the President may 

from time to time request, including assistance with 

respect to: 

(1) evaluation of the adequacy of the national effort to combat mental retardation; 

(2) coordination of activities of Federal agencies 

in the mental retardation field; 

(3) provision of adequate liaison between such 

Federal activities and related activities of State and 

local governments, foundations, and other private 

organizations; and 

(4) development of such information, designed 

for dissemination to the general public, as will tend to 

reduce the incidence of mental retardation and 

ameliorate its effects. 

(b) The Committee shall mobilize support for 

mental retardation activities by meeting with, and 

providing information for, appropriate professional 

organizations and groups broadly representative of 

the general public. 

(c) The Committee shall make such reports or 

recommendations to the President concerning mental 

retardation as he may require or the Committee may 

deem appropriate. Such reports shall be made at least 

once annually. 

SEC. 4. Cooperation with the Committee. All 

who may be in a position to do so are requested to 

furnish the Committee information pertinent to its 

work and otherwise to facilitate the work of the Committee. 

SEC. 5. Administrative arrangements. (a) As may 

be necessary, each Federal agency which is 

represented on the Committee shall furnish assistance 

to the Committee in accordance with the provisions 

of Section 214 of the Act of May 3, 1945 (59 Stat. 

134;31 U.S.C. 691), or as otherwise permitted by law. 

The Committee may have an Executive Director who 

shall be designated and compensated in consonance 

24 
with law. The Department of Health, Education, and 

Welfare is hereby designated as the agency which 

principally shall provide the Committee with 

necessary administrative services and facilities. 

(b) Each member of the Committee, except any 

member who then receives other compensation from 

the United States, shall receive compensation for each 

day he or she is engaged upon the work of the Committee, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 55a), and shall 

also be entitled to receive travel expenses, including 

per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law 

(5 U.S.C. 73b-2) for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. 

SEC. 6. Construction. Nothing in this Order shall 

be construed as subjecting any Federal agency, or any 

function vested by law in, or assigned pursuant to law 

to, any Federal agency, to the authority of the Committee or as abrogating or restricting any such function in any manner. 

LYNDON B. JOHNSON 

THE WHITE HOUSE, 

May 11, 1966. 

(F.R. Doc. 66-5456; Filed, May 16, 1966; 11:04 a.m.) 

Source: FEDERAL REGISTER, Vol. 31, No. 95—Tuesday, 

May 17, 1966 pages 7167 and 7168 

25 
Appendix C 

President's Committee on Mental 

Retardation—Impact Statement on Goals 

and Accomplishments 

Numerous goals have been established throughout 

the history of the President's Committee on Mental 

Retardation. Listed below are the major goals, as well 

as the relevant accomplishments made by PCMR in 

seeking to meet these objectives. PCMR has lent its 

endorsement or support to many other Federal 

policies that have aided in the progress of service for 

citizens who are mentally retarded and their families. 

GOAL: To reduce by half the occurrence of mental 

retardation in the United States before the 

end of this century 

Relevant Accomplishments 

 Support of a national education effort supporting planned pregnancies. 

 Efforts towards genetic diagnosis and counseling services. 

 Sponsoring of numerous conferences on 

prevention with medical organizations and 

State officials. 

 Establishment of a national forum on prevention with representatives from each State. 

 Sponsoring State prevention committees in the 

field of mental retardation. 

 Reduction in Downs Syndrome and metabolic 

disorders. 

 Lead poisoning testing mandated in states. 

 Sponsorship of universal measles immunization. 

 Conducted a conference, "Multi-Cultural 

Aspects of Prevention." 

GOAL: To enable one-third of the more than two 

hundred thousand persons in public institutions to return to useful lives in the community 

Relevant Accomplishments 

 Coordination with Federal and national 

organizations supporting deinstitutionalization. 

 A significant contribution toward planning for 

the reduction of the institutionalized population made by many of PCMR's publications, 

i.e., "Changing Patterns of Residential Services." 

 Development of alternative services and smaller 

community residential homes. 

 Reduction in the public institutionalized 

population. 

GOAL: The attainment of full citizenship status, in 

law and in fact, for all individuals with mentally retarded individuals in the United 

States, exercised to the greatest degree possible under the conditions of disability 

Relevant Accomplishments 

 Establishment of a special litigation branch of 

the Office of Civil Rights, Department of 

Justice. 

 Encouragement of the rights of education, 

rehabilitation and treatment for persons with 

mental retardation. 

 Establishment of a nationwide system of public 

legal advocacy services specializing in the protection of rights. 

 Sponsorship of important conferences and the 

publication of major articles and books on the 

legal rights for citizens with mental retardation. 

 Establishment of the Committee for the Disabled within the American Bar Association, and 

other legal groups. 

 Establishment of a case law review of the legal 

status of citizens with mental retardation. 

 The support of numerous State and regional 

symposia on legal rights of people with mental 

retardation. 

GOAL: Adequate and humane service systems for all 

retarded persons 

26 
Relevant Accomplishments 

 Encouragement of the development of community service systems within states. 

 Emphasizing coordination, simplified and unified procedures of interdepartmental policies 

at the Federal, State and local levels. 

 Making services more equitable, and encouraging public and private agencies to provide quality services. 

 Increasing the opportunity for mentally retarded persons to live in local community settings of 

their own choice. 

 Establishment of standards of quality and accountability acceptable to the individuals with 

mental retardation. 

 Production of data showing increased number 

of community agencies servicing citizens with 

mental retardation. 

GOAL: Attainment of a high and stable level of international relations in the cooperative 

preventing and ameliorating of mental retardation 

Relevant Accomplishments 

 Maintenance of United States government's 

participation in international affairs relating to 

mental retardation. 

 Maintaining a relationship with the U.S. State 

Department and with the Inter-American 

Children's Institute of the Organization of 

American States. 

 Cooperative activity with the International 

Societies for the Mentally Handicapped and the 

International Association for the Scientific 

Study of Mental Deficiency. 

 Conducted conferences in Hawaii with Pacific 

and Southwest Asian countries, and in Puerto 

Rico and Panama with Latin American countries. 

 Representatives of PCMR attended many European and Scandinavian conferences. 

 Intensive work with developing countries to 

 study their health and educational systems. 

 Aiding Third World countries in their development of services for persons with mental retardation through Peace Corps operations. 

GOAL: To achieve a firm and deep public acceptance of mentally retarded persons as 

members in common of the social community and as citizens in their own right 
Pan American Congress on mental retardation ~ 1975.

Relevant Accomplishments RRelevant elevant Accomplishments Accomplishments 

 Consistent concern by PCMR with public attitudes toward persons with mental retardation, 

and attempts to advance the value of every person 

with mental retardation to demonstrate their 

productivity and accomplishments. 

 The publication of numerous reports which 

strive toward bringing media attention to implementation of value-oriented approaches of 

human relationships. 

 Education of children, and greater stress on 

community living and job placement, via films 

and meetings. 

 Inclusion of courses on mental retardation and 

related disabilities in the curricula of students in 

medicine, law, education, religion, psychology, 

and numerous other critical professional 

disciplines. 

GOAL: Equitable, coordinated, efficient and effective 

use of public resources in all mental 

retardation programs 

 Coordinated and comprehensive planning of 

Federal, State and local efforts in the area of 

mental retardation. 

 Continuation of an interdepartmental planning 

system on mental retardation in the Federal 

governments. Affiliation of PCMR with each 

department's active participation in inter- and 

intra-governmental programs. 

 Participation in various planning efforts to 

create a national information system on mental 

retardation, and to gather research and data 

that would assist in policy development. 

 Monitoring the funding processes for people 

with mental retardation. 

 Establishment of Federal joint agreements for 

bilateral and multilateral policy and regulations. 

 Reviewing problems in Social Security and 

Medicaid, and sponsoring meetings or forums to 

bring a resolution to critical issues. 

 Enactment of administrative procedures as a 

result of PCMR's consistent and effective relationship with various levels of governmental 

operations in the field of mental retardation. 
PCMR Members and Years Served 

Robert A. Aldrich, M.D., 1966-1971 

Joseph A. Beirne, 1966-1968 

G. Barry Bingham, 1966-1969 

Horace Busby, 1966-1971 

Robert E. Cooke, M.D., 1966-1969 

John T. Dailey, 1966—one year only 

Patrick J. Doyle, M.D., 1966-1969 

Muriel B. Humphrey, 1966-1969 

George Jones, 1966-1969 

Mathilde Krim, 1966-1969 

Robert B. Kugel, M.D., 1966-1969 

Leonard W. Mayo, 1966-1969 

Lloyd E. Radar, 1966-1976 

Theodore S. Repplier, 1966—one year only 

Bernard Rosenberg, 1966-1970 

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 1966-1968-1977-1980 

George Tarjan, M.D., 1966-1971 

Thomas A. Tucker, 1966-1971 

Henry Viscardi, Jr., 1966-1968 

Raymond W. Vowell, 1966-1970 

Robert H. O'Brien, 1966—one year only 

Leo F. Cain, Ph.D., 1967-1970 

Bess H. Jones, 1967-1970 

Jeannette Rockefeller, 1967-1973 

Victor Bussie, 1968-1970 

Victor R. Fuchs, Ph.D., 1968-1971 

Kenneth J. Ryan, M.D., 1968-1971 

Marianna Beach, 1969-1975 

William H. Borders, Jr., M.D., 1969-1972 

Susann R. Ora, 1969-1972 

Louise R. Ravenel, 1969-1975 

David K. Udall, 1969-1971 

N. Lorraine Beebe, 1970-1979 

Clair W. Burgener, 1970-1973 

David H. Echols, 1970-1973 

Donald Lee Fox, 1970-1972 

Lawrence A. Kane, Jr., 1970-1976 

William B. Robertson, 1970-1976 

Luis D. Rovira, 1970—one year only 

Frank R. DeLuca, 1971-1974 

Cecil B. Johnson, M.D., 1971-1977 

James N. Juliana, 1971-1977 

Aris A. Mallas, Jr., 1971-1974 

Kenneth S. Robinson, 1971-1974 

Will Beth Stephens, Ph.D., 1971-1977 

Margaret B. Ulle, 1971-1977 

Robert A. Collier, 1971-1974 

Richard J. Elkus, 1972-1975 

Ralph J. Ferrara, 1972-1975 

Melvin Heckt, 1972-1975 

Miriam G. Wilson, M.D., 1972-1975 

Michael R. Gardner, 1973-1978 

Thomas J. Meskill, 1973-1975 

Henry V. Cobb, Ph.D., 1973-1979 

Geraldine M. Clark, 1974-1977 

Bill J. Doggett, M. Ed., 1974-1977 

Phillip U. Martinez, M.D., 1974-1977 

James D. Clements, M.D., 1975-1978 

Jeanne C. Collier, 1975-1978 

Arnold G. Gangnes, 1975-1978 

John P. Greene, 1975-1978 

Morley A. Hudson, 1975-1978 

Andrew L. Lewis, 1975-1976 

Cherrie Sevick, 1975-1978 

Elizabeth M. Boggs, 1975-1976 

David M. Barrett, 1976-1979 

Jean K. Elder, Ph.D., 1976-1979 

Frank J. Menolascino, M.D., 1976-1979 

Dolores T. Norley, 1976-1979 

Margaret V. Tedone, 1976-1979 

Robert G. Jordan, M.D., 1977-1981 

Anderson W. Pollard, 1977-1980 

Ludwig Rothbein, 1977-1980 

Florence K. Simons, 1977-1980 

Samuel Whitman, 1977-1980 

Andrew I.T. Chang, 1978-1981 

Herbert J. Cohen, M.D., 1978-1981 

Ruth W. Diggs, Ed.D., 1978-1981 

Shirley C. Miller, 1978-1981 

Ana Navarro, M.D., 1978-1981 

Edward J. Quilligan, M.D., 1978-1981 

Aileen A. Weiss, 1978-1981 

29 
Harvey A. Abrams, 1979-1981 

Janet Allen-Spilka, 1979-1981 

G. Thomas Bellamy, 1979-1981 

Marlene F. Kopman, 1979-1981 

Guy M. McKhann, M.D., 1979-1981 

Alba A. Ortiz, Ph.D., 1979-1981 

Edward F. Zigler, Ph.D., 1979-1981 

A. Omie Brown, 1980-1981 

Joseph A. Buonomo, 1980-1981 

Leonard G. Espinosa, 1980-1981 

Lilia A. Evangelista, M.D., 1980-1981 

Leida Herrell, Ph.D., 1980-1981 

William L. McGowan, 1980-1981 

Valaida Smith Walker, 1980-1981 

Kathleen M. Barrett, 1982-1984 

Richard E. Blanton, Ph.D., 1982-1985 

Lee A. Christoferson, M.D., 1982-

Dorothy Corbin Clark, R.N., 1982 

Vicki M. Click, 1982-1984 

Thomas J. Farrell, 1982- 

Vincent C. Gray, 1982- 

Madeline B. Harwood, 1982- 

Elsie D. Helsel, Ph.D., 1982- 

Lawrence A. Kane, Jr., 1982-1985 

Richard J. Kogan, 1982- 

James L. Kuebelbeck, 1982-1985 

D. Beth Macy, 1982-

Timothy J. O'Brien, 1982-1985 

Raymond M. Peterson, M.D., 1982-1984 

Frederick J. Rose, 1982 

Anne C. Seggerman, 1982-

Marguerite T. Shine, 1982- 

Lila Thompson, 1982-1985 

Virginia J. Thornburgh, 1982-

Ruth A. Warson, R.N., 1982- 

Albert L. Anderson, D.D.S., 1984- 

Lois Eargle, 1985- 

Matthew Guglielmo, 1985- 

William Hummer, M.D., 1985- 

Roger Stanley Johnson, M.D., 1985- 

James Bopp, Jr., 1984- 

Jerry P. Larson, M.A. R.S.W., 1984- 

U. Yun Ryo, M.D., Ph.D., 1985- 

Susan Gleeson, Executive Director

30 

Annual Reports 

MR 67: The committee's first report. Outlines ten 

areas in which citizen and agency action can produce 

progress in combating mental retardation. 

MR 68: The Edge of Change. The committee's 

second report. Covers grassroots developments in 

mental retardation programs. Surveys needs and 

makes recommendations on residential services, 

manpower development, and poverty-mental 

retardation links. 

MR 69: Toward Progress—the Story of A 

Decade. Surveys major mental retardation 

research and service developments of the 1960's. 

Makes recommendations for programs and 

approaches to be developed during the 1970's. 

MR 70: The Decisive Decade. Reports on residential 

services, malnutrition, research, education, employment, State services, and additional action areas in 

mental retardation that point up the '70s as decisive 

years. 
MR 71: Entering the Era of Human Ecology. Focuses on the environmental and genetic causes of 

mental retardation, with additional sections on intelligence, genetic damage, the law, Indian health and 

education, lead poisoning, Pacific Forum on Mental 

Retardation, economics, and recreation. 

MR 72: Islands of Excellence. Annual Report of the 

President's Committee on Mental Retardation. 

Describes a number of national, State, regional, and 

local programs that offer promising approaches to 

prevention and alleviation of mental retardation. 

MR 73: The Goal is Freedom. PCMR annual 

Report based on the concept of freeing retarded persons from various handicaps through a system of setting goals to be achieved. The publication also deals 

with prevention of retardation and corrective 

measures. 

MR 74: A Friend in WashingtOn. Eighth annual 

Report of PCMR, reviewing one year in the life of the 

committee, as it works to prevent and ameliorate 

mental retardation. 

MR 76: Mental Retardation Past and Present. 

Reviews the historical shifts in our treatment of 

retarded persons, and assesses where we stand today. 

(There were three other reports in this series, "Century of Decision, The Known and the Unknown, and 

Mental Retardation: Trends in State Services.") 

MR 77: A Renewed National Commitment for the 

Mentally Retarded. Publication presented to Mrs. 

Rosalynn Carter, at her request, with focus on proposed national objectives in the total context of treatment, prevention, national objectives and budget 

criteria for the field of mental retardation.

MR 78: The Leading Edge—Service Programs That 

Work. This PCMR annual report focuses on a 

number of successful service programs throughout 

the United States that are currently directly addressing the accomplishments and potential of citizens 

with mental retardation. The programs address such 

topics as: the family, public school education, community residences, self assertion, the offender with 

mental retardation, mental health, and prevention. 

MR 79: Prevention Strategies That Work. This 

document, constituting the twelfth annual report of 

the President's Committee on Mental Retardation, 

highlights the fact that of the more than two hundred 

known causes of mental retardation—including injuries at birth, toxic conditions, inherited genetic factors, measles, x-rays, metabolic disorders, Rh blood 

disease, etc.—more than 50 percent are preventable. 

The report cites as even more provocative, committee 

findings that a significantly larger percentage of mental retardation, resulting from environmental influences including sociocultural disadvantages, are 

preventable. It presents committee conclusions from 

an intensive study of the distinguishing features of 

strategies known to be successful in preventing mental 

retardation; it describes "representative models" of 

programs and projects implementing such strategies; 

MR 80: The Mentally Retarded Worker: An 

Economic Discovery. The goal of this year's report 

to the President is to increase the awareness of the 

private sector of the hundreds of thousands of people 

with mental retardation who are employable, but are 

unemployed because of misconceptions about their 

abilities to meet and maintain employment standards. 

These misconceptions held by some employers, placement officers, trainers, and parents may lead to a life 

of under-achievement, idleness and public dependency. Yet the overwhelming evidence shows that mentally retarded persons can be productive members of the 

nation's workforce, and quite often are considered 

preferred workers. 

Mental Retardation: Plans for the Future: The fifteenth annual report to the President, describes the 

number of ways in which PCMR, historically, has 

engaged in collaborative activities with other Federal 

agencies, national constituency organizations, private 

sector groups and individuals, to fulfill its executive 

mandate. 

31 
List of Publications 

The Mentally Retarded in Model Cities. This report 

provides the long-awaited opening that can 

change not just the neighborhoods, but also the 

lives of those in the blighted areas where seventyfive percent of persons with mental retardation 

live. 

To Your Future With Love. For young people 

seeking meaningful volunteer and career 

opportunities. Many experiences are told by 

volunteers in their own words. 

Hello World! Popularly written general information booklet, with individuals who are mentally 

retarded illustrating levels of retardation, its 

causes, and means of prevention. 

These, Too, Must Be Equal. Describes America's 

need for habilitation and employment of the mentally 

retarded, and lists proposals for action. 

Residential Services for the Mentally Retarded: An 

 Action Policy Proposal: A proposed statement on 

residential services for public and professional 

review. 

The Mentally Retarded: Their New Hope. This 

booklet is part of a national campaign to inform the 

public about the scope of mental retardation, and 

what must be done to assure persons with mental 

retardation their rightful place in our democratic 

society. 

The Six-Hour Retarded Child. Report on a conference dealing with educational problems of 

inner- city children. Includes recommendations 

for constructive changes in the education system. 

Background Papers. Presentations from Conference on Problems of Education of Children in the 

Inner City. 

Manpower and Mental Retardation—An 

Exploration of the Issues. Proceedings of a joint 

United States- Canada Conference, 1970. 

In Service to the Mentally Retarded. A directory of 

national voluntary agencies that perform services for 

persons with mental retardation. 

Mental Retardation in the Caribbean. 

Proceedings of a September 1970 conference 

sponsored ,by PCMR. 

PCMR Is For People. Describes the composition, 

actions, and goals of the President's Committee on 

Mental Retardation, with suggestions on citizen involvement in the field. 

PCMR Message. Current news and features 

related to the committee's activities and other 

pertinent mental retardation items. 

Delivery of Services to Mentally Retarded Children 

and Adults in Five States. A study and analysis of 

stage systems for delivering services. Presents the problems and interprets the needs of State agencies and 

departments in providing diversified and integrated 

services. 

A Very Special Child. Report from a conference on 

placement of children in special education 

programs for persons with mental retardation. Reexamines present system of intelligence testing and 

classification, from the psychological, social, and 

legal angles. 

Placement of Children in Special Classes for the 

Retarded. Background Position Papers. Papers 

presented at Conference on Placement of Children in 

Special Education Programs for the Mentally 

Retarded. 

Citizen Advocacy. An exploration of the ways in 

which citizens can represent the interests of the handicapped. 

The First Pacific Forum on Mental Retardation. A 

report on a conference of the Pacific nations on their 

mental retardation problems and methods on dealing 

with them. 

32
Attitudes Toward the Retarded. A summary of 

studies evaluating attitudes toward persons with mental retardation. 

Day Care: Serving Children With Special Needs., 

Guidelines to integrated day care programs serving 

children with special needs. 

Action for the Retarded. Recommendations to the 

President on more effective Federal programs for the 

mentally retarded. 

The Naive Offender. Findings from a conference on 

dealing with persons who are retarded who get into 

difficulties with the law. 

Activity Centers for Retarded Adults. A study of 

programs where adults who are mentally retarded 

participate in organized, personally meaningful activities which help them toward an optimal adjustment to family and community. 

Screening and Assessment of Young Children at 

Developmental Risk. A monograph on methods of 

screening and assessing the needs of children at risk of 

being developmentally delayed by intellectual, 

physical, or emotional problems. 

Background Papers. Presentations from the National Conference on Screening and Assessment of 

Young Children at Developmental Risk. 

Federal Programs for the Retarded. A report on a 

review and evaluation by departments and agencies of 

Federal programs for persons who are retarded. 

Transportation and the Mentally Retarded. A 

report on a study of special transportation needs and 

problems of citizens who are mentally retarded. 

Changing Patterns in Residential Services for the 

Mentally Retarded. A 435 page report by the President's Committee on Mental Retardation on residential facilities for citizens who are mentally retarded. 

33
Originally published in 1969, it includes chapters by 

fourteen authors discussing models in the United 

States and abroad, stressing the normalization 

principle. 

International Symposium on Volunteers. Report 

on a symposium co-sponsored by PCMR and NARC at 

Philadelphia in 1971. Focuses on the role of the 

volunteer in terms of direct service and community 

leadership, and the motivation of governments to accept the responsibility to enable the population who 

are retarded to live within the community. 

Malnutrition, Learning, and Intelligence. A paper 

presented by the late Dr. Herbert G. Birch, a leading 

researcher in the field, to PCMR Leadership Institute. It concludes from a survey of the scientific 

evidence that malnutrition may contribute to a 

suboptimal level of intellectual functioning, but that 

improvements in all facets of life are needed to 

achieve increased intellectual growth of disadvantaged children. 

Mentally Retarded Citizens and the Law Enforcement 

Process. Proceedings of a conference held in St. 

Louis, Missouri, October 29-November 1, 1972. Subjects covered included correctional administration, 

recognition by police, and sentencing. 

Experimental Studies of Memory in the 

Mentally Retarded. A paper presented at a PCMR 

Leadership Training Institute, by John M. Belmont, 

Ph.D. It presents results of research into the strategies 

of learning used by both subjects who are retarded and 

normal, focusing on both organization and retrieval 

of information. 

Mental Retardation and the Law. A quarterly compilation of legal actions affecting the rights of persons 

who are retarded. Reports new cases and status of actions previously brought. 

New Neighbors. Fourteen contributors discuss 

philosophical and practical aspects of the citizen who 

is retarded and his need for a home in the community. 

Residential Programming. Position statement on 

the contemporary issues affecting residential services 

for persons who are mentally retarded by the National Association of Superintendents of Public 

Residential Facilities for the Mentally Retarded. 

Silent Minority. Deals with life, liberty, and the 

pursuit of happiness of citizens who are retarded, 

and what can be done legally to protect their 

fundamental rights. 

PI-MR. Directed at persons doing public information work in the field of mental retardation. Reports 

on media opportunities, activities of PIO's, etc. 

Issued at irregular intervals. 

Information Office News Clipping Service. Topical 

clippings from the mental retardation field nationwide. 

Mental Retardation: Century of Decision. A report 

to the President making recommendations for the 

next twenty-five years on prevention, humane services, and full citizenship for persons who are 

retarded. 

Mental Retardation: The Known and the Unknown. 

This publication compiles for the first time existing 

statistical and factual information about the extent, 

the causes, and the treatment program for citizens 

who are mentally retarded. 

Mental Retardation: Trends in State Services. Identifies trends in State and local services for persons 

who are mentally retarded, and the impact of Federal 

assistance. Based on a telephone survey. 

New Environments for Retarded People. An 

album of facility designs from many countries. 

People Live in Houses. Described representative 

group homes, foster homes, and other types of 

residential settings for children and adults. 

What Are We Waiting For? Report of a conference 

on Early Intervention with High-Risk Infants and 

Young Children, focusing on the needs for mother/ 

child/professional interaction. 

International Directory of Mental Retardation Resources. Resources in the field of mental retardation 

are briefly listed for the United States and many other 

countries under governmental, voluntary organizations, research, publications, history of services, and 

information for visitors. 

P .C. M. R. Newsbreak. Published quarterly. Provides current information on new innovative programs. Provides source for additional information. 

34 
The Problem of Mental Retardation. This 

booklet is designed as a basic introduction to 

mental retardation, and an overview of the 

problems related to it. Mental retardation is 

defined, ways in which the patient can be helped are 

given, and the causes and the future of the problem 

are discussed. 

Retardation, Corrections, and Retarded Offenders: A 

Bibliography of Relevant Research, Programs, and 

Literature, with Annotations. A companion 

piece to a "prescriptive package," The Retarded 

Offender and Corrections, designed to bridge the 

gap between the field of retardation and correction, 

and provide directions to individuals who are 

developing programs for retarded offenders. The five 

sections of the report include: Introduction to the 

Field of Retardation, Introduction to the Field of 

Corrections, Major Research Projects/Treatment 

Modalities, Conferences and concludes with 

general literature. 

International Summit on Prevention of Mental Retardation From Biomedical Causes. A complete 198 

page account of the proceedings of an international 

summit sponsored by the President's Committee on 

Mental Retardation (PCMR), the American Association on Mental Deficiency (AAMD), the Canadian 

Association for the Mentally Retardation (CAMR), 

and the National Association for Retarded Citizens 

(NARC), in cooperation with the Johnson Foundation. This summit convened at "Wingspread" in 

Racine, Wisconsin, with the purpose of providing a 

forum which would facilitate the abilities of participants to think, plan, collaborate, and develop 

short and long range strategies to prevent mental 

retardation. 

Proceedings of A National Multicultural Seminar on 

Mental Retardation Among Minority Disadvantaged 

Populations. A complete 116 page record of a national seminar sponsored by the President's 

Committee on Mental Retardation in cooperation 

with Norfolk State College/Department of Special 

Education. The purposes of this "working 

conference" were 1) to address major issues 

related to impaired and retarded human 

development associated with environmental 

conditions of racial and ethnic discrimination, 

poverty, deprivation, family disruption, and 

consequent disadvantage; and 2) to develop recommendations and strategies for affirmative action 

toward reduction of the prevalence of mental 

retardation associated with these conditions. 

* 1713. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFTC13, 1986 - 491-276 - 814/53278

From Rights to Realities: Advocacy By and For 

Retarded People in the 1980's. This 16 page 

pamphlet traces the legal rights movement for 

retarded persons through the 1970's and provides 

the reader with a discussion of resources for legal 

advocacy in the 1980's. Written in easy style, it 

discusses legislative successes and legislative 

landmarks in the quest by citizens with mental 

retardation for equal treatment. It is an excellent 

resource for lay people, as well as professionals, in 

all disciplines associated with the field of mental 

retardation. 

Retardation and Criminal Justice. A Training 

Manual for Criminal Justice Personnel. 

Published in collaboration with the New Jersey 

Association for Retarded Citizens. This fifty page 

booklet is written specifically for criminal justice 

personnel as an introductory lesson into the nature 

of mental retardation. It includes detailed 

curriculum on the development of habilitative 

correctional programs for offenders who are 

retarded. Because of its discussion of the problems 

retarded people encounter in the juvenile and 

criminal justice systems, retardation professionals 

will also find this manual of value. 

The Role of Institutions of Higher Learning in Preventing or Minimizing Mental Retardation. This 

sixty-nine page monograph is intended to increase 

professional and community awareness regarding 

specific prevention—oriented towards functions of 

colleges and universities. It represents a continuing 

positive effort to develop and disseminate information that will reduce the incidence and prevalence of 

mental retardation, especially as it relates to environmental and sociocultural influences. 

FILMS 

A Little Slow. Dramatizes through the 

experience of Billy and Carol the problems persons 

with retardation face in obtaining their legal rights. 

It's Their World Too. Documents the experiences 

of three people who are retarded. The film offers 

first-hand accounts from a young woman 

employed by a large corporation and a middleaged man living in a group home. The parents of a 

young child who is retarded discuss the child's 

treatment, and their reaction to professional 

services. 

35

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

OFFICE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES 

PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON MENTAL RETARDATION 

Washington, D.C. 20201 

 OFFICIAL BUSINESS THIRD-CLASS MAIL 

 

Postage and Fees Paid 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF H.H.S. 

HHS-393