The purpose of this article is to explain and support the policy statement on consent recently approved by the Board of Directors of CEC-MRDD. The position statement posits that adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities have the right to consent to programs and/or procedures that impact their daily lives including living arrangements, employment, etc. Further, the article offers ethical and practical suggestions for dealing with the issue of consent for adults with mental and developmental disabilities and invites communication between others interested in research and policy concerning the issue.
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