From theory to practice in the care and education of mentally retarded individuals

Issues related to the care and education of mentally retarded individuals were examined from a historical perspective. Historical analysis shows that institutions and special education services spring from common, although not identical, societal and philosophical forces. The adequacy and implications of the normalization concept were discussed in relation to both deinstitutionalization and mainstreaming, with the conclusion that mental retardation workers must pay more attention to bettering the lives of retarded individuals and less to the "social address" at which interventions take place. Suggestions for the future care and education of retarded individuals were provided, and the proper role of science in the mental retardation field was discussed.