December 20, 1971 The United Nations proclaimed the “Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons.” In doing so, they affirmed that “mentally retarded persons” have the same rights as all other persons, including rights to health care, education, economic security, a decent standard of living, and protection from exploitation, abuse, and degrading treatment.

-Caroline Lyster

• Developmental and Psychiatric Disabilities. (2003-4). United Nations enable. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disdevelopmental.htm.

• United Nations. (n.d.). A Compendium of Declarations on the Rights of Disabled Persons. Retrieved from http://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/files/library/united-nations-un.pdf.