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Quality of Care for People with Mental Retardation

There are some people, however, with overriding medical and behavioral complexities who require ongoing services that currently do not exist apart from Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICFs/MR), including some institutions. Until these services and protections are provided in the community by models other than ICFs/MR, total deinstitutionalization threatens the health and safety needs of many behaviorally or medically fragile people with severe and profound mental retardation.

In supporting varying choices, VOR supports the enhancement of happiness, opportunities, health and safety. In failing to emphasize the need for specialized programs related to health and safety by some medically-fragile people with severe and profound mental retardation, other national organizations ignore an issue of vital importance.

Advocates and policymakers must work together to create community-based programs that are designed to prevent disease, injury, and death, and optimally treat the medical conditions which frequently occur in people with complex disabilities. Such an expansion would compliment the quality community vocational, educational and residential models that already exist.

VOR seeks to move past the institution versus community debate and work toward ensuring that all persons with mental retardation are safe and healthy, regardless of where they live..

VOR * 836 S. Arlington Heights Rd., #351 * Elk Grove Village, Illinois * 60007

877-399-4VOR ph. * 847-253-0675 fax * tamie327@hotmail.com