1999 — The Forgotten Generation

In 1969, the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation produced the landmark publication, The Six Hour Retarded Child, linking mild cognitive disabilities in typical-appearing children with conditions associated with poverty.  Thirty years later, in 1999, the Committee revisited The Six Hour Retarded Child, to assess the lives of adults with mild cognitive disabilities living at the fringes of American society.  “The Forgotten Generation Summit” convened 75 national experts, including adults with mental retardation, to examine the consequence of social failure to adequately support leading marginal lives.  The deliberations of summit participants are reflected in this document, with many policy recommendations for the consideration of the President that members believe address some of the concerns expressed by participants.

The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President:

When John F. Kennedy launched the President's Panel on Mental Retardation in 1961, neither poverty in America nor the extent and significance of mental retardation were well researched or understood. In 1969, the President's Committee on Mental Retardation produced the landmark publication, The Six Hour Retarded Child, linking mild cognitive disabilities in typical-appearing children with conditions associated with poverty. The ensuing years have revealed much about how substandard housing, environmental hazards, lack of access to medical care - particularly pre-natal care - poor nutrition, violence and especially alcohol and other drugs impact on development. Yet so much remains to be done to ameliorate those conditions.

In 1999, the President's Committee on Mental Retardation revisited The Six Hour Retarded Child, to assess the lives of adults with mild cognitive disabilities living at the fringes of American society. "The Forgotten Generation Summit" convened 75 national experts, including adults with mental retardation, to examine the consequence of social failure to adequately support these people leading marginal lives. Their deliberations are reflected in this document, with many policy recommendations for your consideration that we believe will address some of their concerns.

The plight of those living in poverty was a key concern to PCMR member John F. Kennedy, Jr. To follow on the experience and recommendations of "The Forgotten Generation," Mr. Kennedy adopted the concept of a PCMR conference on Poverty and Early Onset Disability to be co-sponsored by his Reaching Up Foundation.

In his absence, the conference will go forward in New York City in February of the year 2000. We dedicate this Report to the President 1999: The Forgotten Generation, to the memory of John F. Kennedy, Jr., his life, spirit and aspirations. Please accept this Report, as we continue to work together to meet the needs of our nation's most vulnerable citizens.

Sincerely,

Valerie J. Bradley
Chair