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Quality of Life

Statement

People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities* must be able to live the lives they choose and have a good quality of life.

Issue

People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities often do not have the services, supports and personal relationships they want and need to lead a full life in the community.  They may encounter attitudinal, public policy, service system, and other barriers that keep them from choosing where they live and work.  Moreover, they often lack opportunities to participate in and contribute to their communities.

Position

People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities must have the opportunity to lead lives that offer them a meaningful quality of life.  A meaningful quality of life exists for them when they:

• Receive, at all stages of their lives, the support, encouragement, opportunity, and resources to explore and define how they want to live and who is in their lives;
• Choose the services and supports they need and receive them anywhere in the country without waiting for an uncertain and extended length of time;
• Direct the services and supports they receive;
• Lead a life enriched by friends and family and have opportunities for intimate relationships based on informed consent and responsibilities;
• Experience life-long learning and develop decision-making skills;
• Work in a job that is meaningful to them;
• Enjoy the same rights and respect for their dignity and privacy, as do people without disabilities;
• Are fully informed about options, understand the risks associated with the options, and are allowed to take risks inherent in the options they choose; and
• Receive support to live in a healthy and safe environment.

Policies, regulations and funding must promote these desired outcomes.  In addition, public agencies, private organizations, and individuals providing services and supports must:

• Be accountable and responsible to individuals and their families;
• Continuously improve their efforts to support individuals;
• Be recognized when they make major contributions to the quality of life of individuals;
• Be replaced when they fail to defend or protect the people they serve or fail to enhance the quality of their lives;
• Participate in ongoing monitoring that is independent of the service provider; and
• Ensure training that will lead to desired outcomes and the satisfaction of the people served and their families.
  

Adopted:

Board of Directors, AAIDD
September 21, 2009

Board of Directors, The Arc of the United States
October 29, 2009

Congress of Delegates, The Arc of the United States
November 14, 2009

*“People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities” refers to those defined by AAIDD classification and DSM IV. In everyday language they are frequently referred to as people with cognitive, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities although the professional and legal definitions of those terms both include others and exclude some defined by DSM IV.