ASSESSING THE ABILITY OF ADULTS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION TO GIVE DIRECT CONSENT FOR RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENTS - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY FOR THE CONSENT SCREENING INTERVIEW

The ability to give informed consent is assumed by most people in the united States at age 18. This basic civil right often is denied to adu lts with mental retardation, a denial based on nebulous criteria. The opportunity to give informed consent is considered to be an important aspect of self-determination and adult status, and therefore adults wi th mental retardation who have the ability to consent should be afford ed the right to express their preferences, values, and opinions about the places they live, work, and play. The Consent Screening Interview was developed as a screening tool to give consumers with mental retard ation an opportunity to express personal views and preferences about c ommunity residential placements and to give service providers an indic ation of consumers ability to give informed consent. Data from the fol low-up study supported the value of valid consumer self-reporting in d etermining the quality and appropriateness of services and placements.