Silent Minority

Discussed in the booklet are approaches for citizens to use in helping the silent minority--mentally retarded (MR) children and adults--attain their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The MR person is described to be one of 6 million retarded Americans, to benefit from education although his ability to learn is limited, to have special needs such as speech therapy, and to be unable to protect his own interests. Discussed under the MR person's right to life are the right to be born healthy, advocacy programs, the dilemma of guardianship seen in parents' concerns for the future of their MR children, health insurance legislation, habilitation, improved institutionalization, and ways citizens can protect the life of MR persons. Discussed under the right to liberty are the trend toward normalization; considerations on institutionalization such as correct diagnosis, court procedures, prison problems, legislative reform, zoning barriers; and what the citizen can do to assure liberty for the MR population. Discussed under the right to the pursuit of happiness are the right to an appropriate education, the right to a place in the labor force, fundamental personal rights such as marriage, the right to be treated as an individual equal to other citizens, and what the citizen can do to protect the pursuit of happiness of the MR person. Sources of information on legal rights of the mentally retarded and background literature are included. (MC)