Declaration

THE COMMUNITY IMPERATIVE

A Refutation of All Arguments

in Support of Institutionalizing Anybody

because of Mental Retardation

Center on Human Policy - Syracuse University

In the domain of Human Rights:

	All people have fundamental moral and constitutional rights.
	These rights must not be abrogated merely because a person has a mental or physical disability.
	Among these fundamental rights is the right to community living.

In the domain of Educational Programming and Human Services:

	All people, as human beings, are inherently valuable.
	All people can grow and develop.
	All people are entitled to conditions which foster their development.
	Such conditions are optimally provided in community settings.

Therefore:

In fulfillment of fundamental human rights and in securing optimum developmental opportunities, all people, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, are entitled to community living.

en Espanól

Additional Links:

	A reader-friendly version of *The Community Imperative* developed for and with self-advocates
	Questions and Answers About *The Community Imperative*
	Listing of Individuals Who Endorsed *The Community Imperative* in 1979
	Current Listing of Individuals Who Have Endorsed *The Community Imperative*
	Current Listing of Organizations That Have Endorsed *The Community Imperative*

For further information, contact:

California Alliance for Inclusive Communities

4501 Cathedral Oaks

Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Phone: (805) 566-7664

e-Mail: California Alliance for Inclusive Communities

Center on Human Policy

Syracuse University

805 South Crouse Avenue

Syracuse, NY 13244-2280

Phone: (315) 443-3851

e-Mail: Center on Human Policy

Special thanks to our volunteer webmasters at CommunityWorks, a leading resource for solutions to the challenges of developing inclusive communities.