People with intellectual and other developmental disabilities are fully participating members of society and their community. Recognizing a person with I/DD is equally as valuable as any other member of the community that has made an important contribution.
It is the Position of The Arc New York that every effort must be made to:
- Promote and support people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to speak, advocate and represent themselves publicly.
- Promote and encourage the presentation of stories with positive and meaningful news that recognize the accomplishments of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
- Seek to identify, correct and/or eliminate the use of terms which are pejorative and can devalue people, including any version of words which are historical, dated or arcane, such as “retarded or mentally retarded”.
- Support and promote the development and presentation of educational curricula across all grade levels in New York state schools, which explains the history and accomplishments of people and systems in the field of disabilities.
- Use any and all public means and forms of media to promote persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in a manner which celebrates and reinforces their talents, skills and value as productive members of our communities.
- Serve as an example, through a Chapter commitment, to employ and recognize people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in valued employment and leadership roles.
