Who are we?

A statewide independent parent advocacy group for persons with mental retardation. We organized in 1958 and have worked to provide our sons and daughters a better quality of life for these past 45 years.

Who are our officers?
What is our mission?
What is our philosophy?
What is our history?
What do we do?
What have we accomplished?
What has been our impact on the state of Missouri?

Officers

Chairman...............
Past President........
President...............
Vice-President.......
Secretary..............
Treasurer.............

Bill Nance, parent, Albany
Jim Ryan, parent, Macon
Joe Weber, parent, Dexter
Lillian Jones, parent, Cape Girardeau
Clara Drysdale, parent, St. Charles
Bill Miller, Cape Girardeau

Our Mission

Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, a state organization on mental retardation, is committed to securing for all persons with mental retardation the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work and play.

Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri is concerned about recent trends that have placed professionals at the forefront of the service delivery dialogue. (Originally, programs and services were designed by parents).

Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri is further committed to returning empowerment of programs and philosophies to persons with mental retardation, their families, friends and volunteers.

By sponsoring forums of cradle to grave issues for individuals, parents, care providers and professionals Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri provides the leadership necessary to ensure that quality of life, freedom of real choice and justice for persons with mental retardation is improved.

Purpose

To empower persons with mental retardation, their families, friends and volunteers.
To provide a forum for educating parents and care providers about available services and how they are operated.
To represent individuals and families, to ensure their choice of services are provided.
To ensure legislation enacted is in the best interest of persons with mental retardation.
To ensure state agencies follow legislative "intent" when promulgating rules and regulations governing persons with mental retardation.
To analyze new trends and philosophies in the profession.

Philosophy

“It is the measure of a civilized society that it affords the greatest protection to the rights and needs of those who are the most vulnerable.” Barbara Whitman, PhD

Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri believes no two persons with mental retardation are the same; they require different treatments and environments; they and their families have the “right” and government has the “responsibility” to provide them with the full continuum of choices of where they live, learn, work and play.

History

Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, a parent organization on mental retardation, has been fighting for the improvement of their sons and daughters quality of life for over 40 years.

No public programs existed for children or adults with mental retardation in the early 1950’s. Parents throughout Missouri banded together to promote appropriate programs that have “stood the test of time”.

Current discussions sometimes tend to lump all disabilities together. Physical Disabilities, and certain Developmental Disabilities are not mental retardation. Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri continues to represent the interests of persons with Mental Retardation. Mental Retardation is a succinct condition that many times requires a separate solution.

In recent years new persons, new programs, new theories and new philosophies have surfaced. While some are appropriate, a balance of history must be included in discussions to ensure that “the baby isn’t thrown out with the bath water.” Congregate setting’s of Sheltered Workshops, Group Homes, Habilitation Centers and Day Programs are still appropriate for many persons. Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri provides continuity in these critical discussions.

Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri is the only parent advocacy group in Missouri that does not receive money from the Department of Mental Health. This independence is critical in it’s oversight of DMH. · Without Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, who helps insure “choices” are real family “choices,” not DMH’s “choices”?

· Without Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, who monitors abuse and neglect to ensure they are not swept “under the rug”?

· Without Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, who ensures the continuum of services will survive?

We Do

Committees

Advocacy
Membership
Education
Residential Care
Finance
SB40
Govt. Affairs
Sheltered Workshops
Legal Rights
Transportation

Advocacy

Be the “voice” of persons with mental retardation

Empower persons with mental retardation, their families, friends, and volunteers.

Conduct oversight of programs and services.

Analyze new trends, theories and philosophies.

Legal

Advise parents and guardians of their rights.

Counsel parents and guardians on wills and bequeaths .

Members have the satisfaction of knowing their efforts are improving the quality of life of persons with mental retardation.

Education

Provide a forum for educating parents and providers about appropriate programs and how they should be operated.

Provide newsletters; legislative updates; periodic reports, publications and announcements of special events.

Government

Ensure legislation enacted is in the best interest of the persons with mental retardation.

Direct state agencies to follow legislative “intent” when promulgating rules and regulations.

Programs

Advocacy - Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri helps many individuals & families access services of their choice from local & state agencies.

Education - Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri holds meetings & seminars to educate parents & families about new trends & philosophies on mental retardation.

Government - Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri maintains a presence in the halls of the Capitol to ensure Legislators understand the unique characteristics of mental retardation. Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri also interacts with departments of state government to ensure that “legislative intent” is followed in the administration of programs & services.

Legal - Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri retains legal counsel to assist parents & families on guardianships, wills & bequeaths as well as their rights pertaining to programs & services for their sons & daughters.

Publications - Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri publishes quarterly newsletters, periodic bulletins & notices of important activities concerning mental retardation.

Our Accomplishments

Founders of:

State Schools for Severely Handicapped.

SB52 Sheltered Workshops

Group Homes

SB40 Boards

PKU Testing

Regional Centers

Division of MR/DD

Abolition of the Death Penalty for the Mentally Retarded

Our Impact

Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri continues to play a significant role in the lives of the 5 Million Missourians of which approximately 150,000 have some degree of mental retardation.

· Every year, the PKU Test established by Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri is administered to the 70,000 births to prevent mental retardation.

· Every year, the Division of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities thru its Regional Centers, both established by Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, administers programs for 24,000 persons with mental retardation.

· Every day, 1,100 students attend the State Schools for the Severely Handicapped founded by Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri.

· Every day, 8,000 workers with mental retardation go to work in Sheltered Workshops founded by Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri.

· Every day, 7,000 citizens with mental retardation live in Group Homes founded by Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri.

· Every day 35,000 citizens with mental retardation are serviced by local county SB40 Boards founded by Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri.

· The Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri sponsored the bill abolishing the death penalty for persons with mental retardation.