“The national goals book does something not done anywhere else. In one place, with a coherent structure, all the major issues impacting people with intellectual disabilities across the lifespan are address, by some of the leading researchers and practitioners in the field. This is an indispensable volume for students, researchers and practitioners.” Steve Eidelman, former Director of The Arc of the United States

“National Goals provides much needed guidance for the formulation of public policy and future action that will benefit people with intellectual disabilities in the United States and as such, this publication challenges us all to take those actions.” Nancy Thaler, Director for Quality Improvement Strategies for Home and Community Based Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 

“Many federal agencies and much federal legislation call on diverse stakeholders to work together on issues of importance to persons with disabilities. The National Goals book derived from the conference is an exceptional example of the wisdom of such expectations. The many federal and state government, professional, advocacy and academic agencies and organizations that supported this effort should take pride in the product of their commitments and contributions. Most importantly, in that same spirit, they should continue to work together to fulfill the recommendations and achieve the goals outlined in the book.” Robert (Bobby) Silverstein, Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy 

National Goals is America’s first effort to assess the status of the nation with regards to its fulfillment of research goals for persons with intellectual disabilities in areas such as education, positive behavior support, biomedical research, technology, transition planning, health supports, employment, self advocacy, aging, and community supports. The state of the knowledge and research contained in the book in areas such as education, positive behavior support, health supports, biomedical research, technology, and aging makes it an indispensable resource to anyone delivering quality care and services to citizens with intellectual disabilities. The book comes out of a groundbreaking, federal conference held in 2003. America’s prominent leaders in the intellectual disability met in Washington, DC to review what this nation knows and needs to learn specifically in the area of research to fulfill the promises made to persons with developmental disabilities. 

In the words of the authors, research plays a central role in defining and achieving national goals for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. To be useful, this research must provide accessible, relevant information to people with disabilities and their families, professionals, the general public, and public officials. The result is a book that distills scientific research into comprehensible and accessible information so that key stake holders can align the reality of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities with public policy—the clear and unambiguous promises made to them in the national legislation, court decisions, promises of the President, and other sources of national policy.