The President's Committee on Mental Retardation, Washington, D.C. 20201

On November 16, 1971, you issued a statement which said
in part:

"I am today initiating a review process throughout the Federal Government. All executive departments and agencies will evaluate their programs--medical, legal, education, social service, and environmental--with a view to providing maximum support to the President's Committee on Mental Retardation (PCMR), and will report to Secretary Richardson, chairman of that Committee."

Pursuant to your directive, I asked heads of departments
and agencies to designate key personnel who would work
with Dr. Joseph H. Douglass, Executive Director, PCMR,
on this review and evaluation.

Working within a very tight time frame, these representatives have provided the excellent cooperation necessary to make possible our report to you at this time.

This is the first time such a compilation of Federal
activities for the retarded has been made. At a minimum,
we believe it will be of great service as an information
source to all who are involved in assistance to the nation's
six million retarded people.

But more important, we are hopeful that the process of re-
examining their programs will stimulate a continuing search
by Federal agencies for ways to act more effectively on
behalf of the retarded. In the vast array of Federal programs
only a few have been specifically established to serve the

retarded, but many have a potential for being applied to that end.

We thank you, Mr. President, for your initiative in launching this study, and look forward to your leadership in marshaling a maximum effort by Federal agencies for your twin goals--reducing the occurrence of mental retardation, and providing a normalized life in the community for more of our retarded people.

Faithfully yours,

Elliot L. Richardson

Chairman

FOREWORD

This volume presents the reports of 22 Federal departments and agencies on their programs related to mental retardation, as submitted to The President's Committee on Mental Retardation. few other agencies had not completed their reviews in time for this publication.

A

Data on employment of retarded persons by Federal agencies are not shown in their individual reports, but will be found in the report of the U.S. Civil Service Commission.

These reports are being analyzed by The President's Committee on Mental Retardation, and will provide a basis for recommendations to strengthen the Federal effort on mental retardation.