The National Association of Parents and Friends of the Mentally Retarded, now known as "The Arc," held its first national convention in Minneapolis in 1950.
When Governor Youngdahl spoke to the group, he said that people with developmental disabilities had the right to:
- Live with a family
- Go to school
- Reach maximum potential
- Happiness
- Play
- Companionship and respect
- Develop
- Love and affection.
Governor Youngdahl used Arc's first national convention to affirm the rights of people with developmental disabilities.
That same year, Governor Youngdahl asked the Legislature for space and staff to be added at state institutions in Faribault and Cambridge to ease overcrowding and address the long waiting list.
Governor Youngdahl made nine speeches on mental health and developmental disabilities issues:
With overcrowding the norm and long lists of people awaiting care, state institutions like Cambridge (above) expanded in the early 1950s.
| Governor Youngdahl Speeches (PDF Documents) | ||
| 1948 | Mental Health Program Press Release | 48-MHP-LWY.pdf |
| 1948 | Radio Statement on Mental Health | 48-SMH-LWY.pdf |
| 1948 | Radio Statement on Mental Hospitals | 48-RSM-LWY.pdf |
| 1949 | The Challenging New Frontier in Mental Health | 49-CNF-LWY.pdf |
| 1949 | Statement by Governor Youngdahl at the Burning of Restraints | 49-SGL-YOUNGDAHL.pdf |
| 1950 | Caring for the Mentally Ill | 50-CMI-LWY.pdf |
| 1950 | Report on Mental Health Progress | 50-RMH-LWY.pdf |
| 1950 | The Retarded Child | 50-TRC-LWY.pdf |
| 1950 | The New Frontier in Mental Health | 50-NFM-LWY.pdf |