EQUAL ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION - AN OBLIGATION OF SOCIETY

Persons with mental retardation have a high unemployment rate. This ar ticle argues that society, in general, and government agencies, employ ers, and rehabilitation professionals, in particular, have an obligati on to provide persons with mental retardation with equal access to emp loyment opportunities, This societal obligation has a legal foundation in rehabilitation laws, and a moral foundation in the ethical princip les of beneficence, justice, and autonomy, It is also reinforced by th e current conceptualizations of mental retardation as reflected in the new AAMR manual, Attitudinal barriers to employment for persons with mental retardation are discussed, The need for rehabilitation professi onals to play a role in reducing these barriers is also addressed.