At its 1962 Regular Session, the General Assembly of Virginia, by House Joint Resolution No. 69, directed the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to make a study of services provided mentally retarded persons. The Council made its report, including therein a number of recommendations. It also recommended that the study be continued.

House Joint Resolution No. 11 of the 1964 Regular Session of the General Assembly directed the Council to continue its 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, member of the House of Delegates, Pound; Mrs. W. Hamilton Crockford, III, Richmond; Dr. Hiram W. Davis, Commissioner, Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals, Richmond; Mrs. H. D. Jordan, Jr., Chesterfield County; Mrs. Merritt W. Matthews, Arlington; James H. Montgomery, Jr., Attorney, Richmond; Mrs. Max A. Murray, Roanoke; Mrs. Mary Alice Roberts, Training Supervisor, Virginia Department of Welfare and Institutions, Roanoke; Dr. Mack I. Shanholtz, State Health Commissioner, Richmond; Wm. B. Spong, Jr., Attorney and member of the Senate of Virginia, Portsmouth; and George F. Tidey, Attorney, Richmond.

The Committee organized and elected Mr. Montgomery 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 Abingdon and the city of Fairfax. 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 toured the Lincolnia Training Center for moderately retarded children, which is operated by the Fairfax County School Board. It also toured the Lynchburg Training School and Hospital at Colony.

The Committee considered the information and material before it, and made its report to the Council. Having considered the report of the Committee, the Council now makes its report.