During recent years there has been an increasing interest in facilities and programs available for providing care, training and education for mentally retarded persons. Such services in this State are variously provided by the State Departments of Health, Education, Mental Hygiene and Hospitals, and Welfare and Institutions, and by private State-wide and local groups and organizations. There is need for coordination of these various services and elimination of any duplication. Also, it should be determined what additional efforts can and should be made toward resolving the problems relating to mentally retarded individuals. Accordingly, the General Assembly at its 1962 Session adopted House Joint Resolution No. 69 directing the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to make a study of services provided mentally retarded persons.

The Council selected John Warren Cooke, of Mathews, a member of the House of Delegates and a member of the Council, to serve as Chairman of a Committee to make the initial study and report to the Council. Selected to serve as members of the Committee with Mr. Cooke were the following: W. Kuhn Barnett, Director, Division of Elementary and Special Education, State Department of Education, Richmond; Dr. Walter E. Bundy, Jr., Pediatric Physician, Richmond; Orby L. Cantrell, Merchant and member of the House of Delegates, Pound; Dr. Hiram W. Davis, Commissioner, Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals, Richmond; Mrs. Merritt W. Matthews, Housewife, Arlington; James H. Montgomery, Jr., Attorney, Richmond; Mrs. Max A. Murray, Housewife, Roanoke; Mrs. Mary Alice Roberts, Field Representative, Virginia Department of Welfare and Institutions, Roanoke; Toy D. Savage, Jr., Attorney and member of the House of Delegates, Norfolk; Dr. Mack I. Shanholtz, State Health Commissioner, Richmond; and Wm. B. Spong, Jr., Attorney and member of the Senate of Virginia, Portsmouth.

The Committee organized and elected James H. Montgomery, Jr., as Vice-Chairman. John B. Boatwright, Jr. and Wildman S. Kincheloe, Jr. served as Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Committee.

The Committee held public hearings in Richmond and Roanoke. Many interested individuals, officials, and representatives of· organizations concerned with problems of the mentally retarded appeared before the Committee on these occasions and made suggestions and presented valuable information.

The Committee also toured facilities for the mentally retarded in the Norfolk and Northern Virginia areas. Both publicly and privately operated facilities were observed on these tours. Types of facilities visited were preschool center for retarded children, day training schools for severely retarded children, classes· for retarded children, a sheltered workshop, a diagnostic clinic, and an occupational training center.

The Committee carefully considered the material and information which had been gathered and made available, and the suggestions which had been presented, and, after completing its deliberations, made its report to the Council. Having reviewed the Committee's report, the Council now presents its findings and recommendations, and the reasons therefor.