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1991.02.04 :  Mental Retardation Summit

Contact:  David J. Touch (202) 245-7110
February 4, 1991

     Comprehensive state/territorial plans to prevent mental
retardation and related developmental disabilities will be the
primary focus of a national summit to be held at the Omni
Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., Feb. 5-7.
     HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., will speak at the
luncheon Feb. 6.  He also will present awards to persons who have
made major contributions to the field of mental retardation.
     The conference will be sponsored by the President's
Committee on Mental Retardation.  It will feature presentations
by nationally recognized mental retardation experts on preventing
cases of mental retardation caused by social/economic conditions. 
A checklist of individual mental retardation prevention programs
will be distributed.
     The results of the conference will be used to update the
committee's 1987 Guide for State Planning which features
exemplary state prevention programs.
       Sambhu N. Banik, Ph.D., executive director of the
President's Committee on Mental Retardation, said, "The
prevention of mental retardation is one of the highest priorities
of the committee.  This national summit promises to be a
significant step toward achieving our goals."

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