Resources- Specific Diagnosis Card Catalog- Cognitive Disability / Mental Retardation

Who To Contact

American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR)
444 North Capitol Street, NW; Suite 846
Washington, D.C. 20001-1512
Phone: 202-387-1968
Toll-Free: 800-424-3688
Fax: 202-387-2193
Web: www.aamr.org

The American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) is an organization of professionals working in the field of mental retardation. The association has state/provincial chapters organized into 9 geographic areas and 18 divisions for specific professional disciplines.

AAMR publishes two professional journals, 'The American Journal on Mental Retardation', devoted to research in the field, and 'Mental Retardation', devoted to program activities. A bimonthly newsletter, 'News & Notes', provides up-to-date information on current issues and models of service. The association's testing materials include the Adaptive Behavior Scales, a test to measure the abilities of people who are mentally retarded.

The Arc of the United States
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-565-3842
Fax: 301-565-3843
Email: info@thearc.org
Web: www.thearc.org

The Arc (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens) is a volunteer organization with more than 1,100 affiliated chapters and 140,000 members across the United States. The Arc is the country's largest voluntary organization committed to the welfare of all children and adults with mental retardation and their families.

The Arc is committed to securing for all people with mental retardation the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work and play. The Arc is further committed to reducing the incidence and limiting the consequence of mental retardation through education, research, advocacy and the support of families, friends and community. Through the successful pursuit of quality and justice, The Arc will provide leadership in the field of mental retardation and develop necessary human and financial resources to attain its goals.

The Arc has a wide variety of publications on topics related to mental retardation including facts sheets, booklets, Q&A's and position papers. Additionally the Arc hosts an annual conference

Where to go to Chat with Others?

The Arc's Web Board

Learn More About It

An American History of Mental Retardation

Introduction to Mental Retardation

Fact Sheets on Topics Related to Mental Retardation

Assistive Technology for People with Mental Retardation

The Importance of Friendships Between People With and Without Mental Retardation

"With A Little Help From My Friends..."
A series on contemporary supports to people with mental retardation from the President's Committee on Mental Retardation (PCMR)

About Mental Retardation
From the CDC

What is Mental Retardation?
From AAMR

Myths of Mental Retardation

Mental Retardation: A Symptom and A Syndrome

Links

American Association on Mental Retardation
AAMR promotes global development and dissemination of progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities.

The Arc Home Page
The national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related disabilities and their families.

The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID)
The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID), formerly The President's Committee on Mental Retardation (PCMR), is a federal advisory committee, established by presidential executive order to advise the President of the United States and the Secretary of The Department of Health and Human Services on issues concerning citizens with intellectual disabilities, coordinate activities between different federal agencies and assess the impact of their policies upon the lives of citizens with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Mental Retardation (RRTCAMR)
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Mental Retardation (RRTCAMR) is a national resource for researchers, planners, providers, self-advocates, families and students in the field of aging and mental retardation.

Speaking For Ourselves Home Page
A web site for self-advocates

TASH - The Association for the Severely Handicapped
TASH is an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm. TASH is an organization of members concerned with human dignity, civil rights, education, and independence for all individuals with disabilities.

International Sites

Central England People First -United Kingdom
An organisation of people with learning difficulties speaking up for ourselves!

International Order of Alhambra -International
A Fraternal Order of Catholic Men Dedicated to assisting persons developmentally disabled by mental retardation.

Developmental Disabilities Centre Home Page -Canada
Includes information on human ethics, inclusive education, and violence and people with disabilities.

Gentle Teaching -The Netherlands
This is the home page of a non-violent approach for helping children and adults with special needs, maintained by the Foundation for Gentle Teaching in the Netherlands

International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID)
The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (mental retardation and related developmental disabilities) is an international and interdisciplinary scientific organization to promote worldwide research and exchange of information on intellectual disabilities. The association (originally named the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency) was founded in 1964 and has sponsored Nine World Congresses. IASSID is the first and only world-wide group dedicated to the scientific study of intellectual disability.

L'Arche -Canada
Communities of life of people with developmental disabilities.