Position Statements

AAIDD postion statements are adopted by the Board of Directors to state the Association's position on important issues related to intellectual and developmental disabilities practice, policy, or research. 

AAIDD and other organizations have also adopted joint position statements, through respective Board resolutions, which are developed through a consensus-building approach that brings diverse perspectives and areas of expertise on each issue.  AAIDD has adopted a number of joint position statements with The Arc of the US (The Arc), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).

Position Statement Booklet September 2020

Professional Conduct

• Guidelines to Professional Conduct (AAIDD, 2020)
• Research (AAIDD, The Arc, 2015)

Aging

• Aging (AAIDD, The Arc, 2014)
• Caring at the End of Life (AAIDD, 2020)

Community Living

• Community Living and Participation (AAIDD, AUCD, 2016)

COVID-19

• Vaccine Allocation and Safety (AAIDD, AADMD, et al., 2020)

Education & Early Intervention 

• Early Intervention (AAIDD, The Arc, 2013)
• Education (AAIDD, The Arc, 2018)

Employment & Economic Wellbeing

• Employment (AAIDD, The Arc, 2017)
• Opportunities for Financial Asset Building (AAIDD, The Arc, 2016)

Diversity

• Anti-Racism (AAIDD, 2020)
• Diversity and Inclusion (AAIDD, 2017)

Health

• Environmental Health (AAIDD, 2020)
• Growth Attenuation (AAIDD, 2020)
• Health, Mental Health, Vision, and Dental Care (AAIDD, The Arc, 2012)

Housing

• Housing (AAIDD, The Arc, 2012)

Prevention

• Addressing the Causes and Effects of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD, The Arc, 2016)

Protections 

• Autonomy, Decision-Making Supports, and Guardianship (AAIDD, The Arc, 2016)
• Aversive Procedures (AAIDD, 2020)
• Criminal Justice (AAIDD, The Arc, 2014)
• Electric Shock (AAIDD, 2019)
• Human and Civil Rights (AAIDD, The Arc, 2015)
• Protection (AAIDD, The Arc, 2015)

Self-Determination

• Self-Advocacy and Leadership (AAIDD, The Arc, 2020)
• Inclusion (AAIDD, The Arc, 2015)
• Quality of Life (AAIDD, The Arc, 2015)
• Self Determination (AAIDD, The Arc, 2018)
• Sexuality (AAIDD, The Arc, 2013)
• Spirituality (AAIDD, The Arc, 2015)

Supports

• Behavioral Supports (AAIDD, The Arc, 2015)
• Direct Support Professional (DSP) Workforce (AAIDD, NADSP, 2016)
• Facilitated Communication and Rapid Prompting Method (AAIDD, 2019)
• Family Support (AAIDD, The Arc, 2020)
• Individual Supports (AAIDD, The Arc, 2011)
• Long Term Supports and Services (AAIDD, The Arc, 2020)
• Support Coordination (AAIDD, The Arc, 2015)

Technology

• Technology and Internet Access (AAIDD, 2020)

Transportation

• Transportation (AAIDD, The Arc, 2020)