About MCDD
		Statement of Principles   The Metropolitan Council on Developmental Disabilities will: Be guided by the philosophy that persons with developmental disabilities have the right and the desire to shape their own destinies and, therefore, they or their families have the right and responsibility to be active decision makers in both the services they receive and the decisions of organizations that directly affect their lives. Advocate for the development of family support options that provide families choices for obtaining the resources and services that can enable them to maintain a functioning family system and that can nurture and provide for the needs of all family members including the family member with a disability. Work for the assurance that every child and adult with a disability has the opportunity to live in a family or their own home in the community. The Metropolitan Council on Developmental Disabilities will work to change attitudes and policies that permit the placement of persons with disabilities in unnecessarily restrictive facilities and programs. Advocate for public policy changes and effective passage of public and private resource allocations that would enable all people with developmental disabilities to receive services, supports and other opportunities necessary to enable them to become as interdependent, productive, integrated and included into community life as they choose. Promote the inclusion of all persons with developmental disabilities in community life and recognize the contributions of people with developmental disabilities as they share their talents at home, school, work and in recreation/leisure time. Provide public awareness and education to achieve positive portrayal through language and attitude that improves understanding and acceptance of persons with developmental disabilities. The Metropolitan Council on Developmental Disabilities will actively work to remove the physical and architectural barriers that exclude people with disabilities from full community participation. Council will decline to participate in any meeting, conference or professional gathering where the physical facility, because of its barriers, excludes persons with disabilities from attending and participating. Support personal health, home and public safety as to prevent or reduce the occurrence, frequency and impact of disabling injuries, accidents, abuse and illness for the benefit of all people. Support medical and applied research into the causes, prevention, treatment and amelioration of developmental disabilities.