THE COMMUNITY IMPERATIVE
A STATEMENT AGAINST INSTITUTIONALIZING
ANY PERSON BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY

Center on Human Policy
Syracuse University

This version of The Community Imperative was developed by and for self-advocates in March 2000.

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In terms of Human Rights:

• All people have basic human and legal rights
  
• These rights must not be taken away just because a person has a mental or physical disability
  
• Included in these basic rights is the right to live in the community
  

In terms of education and support services:

• All people are valuable
  
• All people have strength and abilities
  
• All people have the right to services in their lives that support these strengths and abilities
  
• These supports are best provided in the community
  

So:
To meet basic human rights and get the best services, all people, no matter what their abilities, have the right to live in the community.