This 1988 paper by Hank Bersani Jr. examines the progress and challenges of community integration for people with developmental disabilities over several decades. It traces how values, policies, and service practices shifted away from institutional care toward community living, while also acknowledging gaps between policy goals and real-life experiences. The paper emphasizes that meaningful community integration must be grounded in shared values such as inclusion, dignity, and participation, not just changes in service structure.

The document explores key areas where gaps remained, including education, employment, housing, and quality assurance, and highlights the importance of self-advocacy, family involvement, and community relationships. It calls for continued systems change, stronger accountability, and clearer measures of success to ensure integration is reflected in everyday life. Together, these ideas helped shape how policymakers, service providers, and advocates thought about community living and quality of life in the late 1980s and beyond.