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Position Statement on Parenting Supports for
Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Issue: Many parents who have intellectual or other developmental disabilities live in fear of their children being taken away. They are more closely scrutinized by family, friends, government or social service agencies for any sign of abuse or neglect of their children.

The needs and struggles of most parents who have developmental disabilities are not that different from the needs and struggles of other parents of similar social and economic status. The parents' disabilities are not necessarily the primary cause of difficulties. In most situations natural parents are the best source of love, support and care for children, and premature out-of-home placement is frequently the result of a failure to provide adequate supports to help a family remain intact, rather than the result of the individual's disability itself.

To enable children to remain with natural parents, supports may be necessary, including parent education and monitoring to foster the intellectual, emotional and physical development of children. Financial, housing and other supports may be crucial in fulfilling those needs.

Position: We urge that a variety of community resources be developed, accessed and utilized to meet the individual support needs of each family. Parents with developmental disabilities have the right to parent, make important parenting decisions and experience all aspects of parenting to the greatest extent possible.

Passed by the Delegate Body at The Arc of Minnesota Annual Meeting on 11/03/01.

Resolution to Extend an Existing Position Statement on
Parenting Supports for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

WHEREAS, The Arc of Minnesota Board of Directors has approved a policy which assigns each of The Arc of Minnesota’s Position Statements a six-year life span and requires delegate body approval to sunset or adopt The Arc of Minnesota’s Position Statements, and;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the existing board policy, The Arc of Minnesota Position Statements Task Force must review the Position Statement on Parenting Supports for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, which is six years old, and;

WHEREAS, The Arc of the United States is drafting a position statement on parents with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, and;

WHEREAS, The Arc of Minnesota believes it is important to have an official statement on the rights of persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to become parents, and;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Position Statement on Parenting Supports for Persons with Developmental Disabilities continue to remain in effect until The Arc of the U.S. has approved its statement on parents with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

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This page last updated July 2007 to change references to "mental retardation" to "intellectual disabilities."