Washington, D.C. – The Arc applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for taking action to protect the rights of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) under federal civil rights law. Parents with IDD must not be subject to discrimination or be denied the opportunity to raise their children in their home based solely on a measure like IQ score.

After completing a compliance review, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at Health and Human Services announced an agreement with the Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Program (ODHS) requiring ODHS to ensure they meet their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and update its policies and procedures to prevent future discrimination against parents with disabilities in Oregon’s child welfare system. The agreement stems from a case in which ODHS removed two infant children from their mother and father and denied the parents appropriate supports to allow them to reunite with their children, largely because of the parents’ intellectual disabilities and IQ scores. We are encouraged that ODHS has agreed to this important work, including necessary policy changes and training opportunities.

“The Arc is a strong proponent of the rights of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities to raise children. Research shows that the presence of IDD does not itself preclude effective parenting. Parents with IDD should have access to support as needed to perform parental roles just as they are supported in other valued social roles and activities. We are glad to see federal regulators reject stereotypical and discriminatory beliefs about the abilities of parents with IDD to care for their children, particularly when considering the history of discrimination, including involuntary sterilization,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc. “The Arc calls on state governments, as well as family support and early intervention programs to make sure that intensive and ongoing supports for parents with IDD are available, so that parents like Amy Fabbrini and Eric Ziegler in Oregon can raise their children whenever possible.”