U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

There has been a growing recognition that mental retardation is a community problem requiring the utilization of the total resources of the community.Yet the severe shortage of trained personnel capable of working with the mentally retarded and their families threatens the 3uccess of programs in this field.Lack of concerted efforts to recruit prospective workers for careers in mental retardation has serious implications for the future .Work in the field of mental retardation may invoive diagnosis, research, prevention, care, rehabilitation, education or training in a variety of settings including a clinic, a community day care center or residential care institution.Personnel on the supportive, professional, specialist and administrative levels are needed.Preparation for work with the mentally retarded individual and his family varies greatly and opportunities exist for many different individuals to contribute their talents and services.This publication is designed to encourage the investigation of career opportunities in the field of mental retardation.A significant contribution to occupational information on mental retardation was made by the Department of Labor through its publication,