# D.C. Code § 7-1301.02: Statement of purpose > District of Columbia · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1301.02 ## Section - **Citation:** D.C. Code § 7-1301.02 - **Heading:** Statement of purpose - **Jurisdiction:** District of Columbia - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** DC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / § 7-1301.02 ## Text (a) It is the intent of the Council of the District of Columbia to: (1) Assure that residents of the District of Columbia with intellectual or developmental disabilities shall have all the civil and legal rights enjoyed by all other citizens of the District of Columbia and the United States; (2) Secure for each resident of the District of Columbia with intellectual or developmental disabilities, regardless of ability to pay, such habilitation as will be suited to the needs of the person, and to assure that such habilitation is skillfully and humanely provided with full respect for the person’s dignity and personal integrity and in a setting least restrictive of personal liberty; (3) Encourage and promote the development of the ability and potential of each person with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the District to the fullest possible extent, no matter how severe his or her degree of disability; (4) Promote the economic security, standard of living and meaningful employment of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities; (5) Maximize the assimilation of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities into the ordinary life of the community in which they live; and (6) Provide a mechanism for the identification of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities at the earliest age possible. (b) To accomplish these purposes, the Council of the District of Columbia finds and declares that the design and delivery of care and habilitation services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities shall be directed by the principles of normalization, and therefore: (1) Community-based services and residential facilities that are least restrictive to the personal liberty of the person shall be established for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities at each stage of life development; (2) The use of institutionalization shall be abated to the greatest extent possible; ities shall be directed by the principles of normalization, and therefore: (1) Community-based services and residential facilities that are least restrictive to the personal liberty of the person shall be established for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities at each stage of life development; (2) The use of institutionalization shall be abated to the greatest extent possible; (3) Whenever care in an institution or residential facility is required, it shall be in the least restrictive setting; and (4) Persons placed in institutions shall be transferred to community or home environments whenever possible, consistent with professional diagnoses and recommendations. ## Nearby sections - [D.C. Code § 7-1301.02 § 7-1301.02. Statement of purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1301.02.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1301.03 § 7-1301.03. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1301.03.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1302.01 § 7-1302.01. Determination of need for mental retardation facilities and services in the District.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1302.01.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.01 § 7-1303.01. Competence of individual to refuse commitment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.01.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.02 § 7-1303.02. Voluntary admission.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.02.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.03 § 7-1303.03. Application by individual for out-patient nonresidential habilitation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.03.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.04 § 7-1303.04. Petition for commitment of individual 14 years of age or older filed by parent or guardian or by the District.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.04.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.05 § 7-1303.05. Application by parent or guardian for nonresidential habilitation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.05.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.06 § 7-1303.06. Petition for commitment of individual under 14 years of age filed by parent or guardian.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.06.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.07 § 7-1303.07. Immediate discharge from facility upon request by individual.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.07.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.08 § 7-1303.08. Discharge from commitment upon request by parent or guardian.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.08.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.09 § 7-1303.09. Transfer of individual from one facility to another.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.09.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.10 § 7-1303.10. Discharge from residential care.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.10.md) - [D.C. Code § 7-1303.11 § 7-1303.11. Payment for habilitation and care.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1303.11.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T7_C13_S7-1301.02. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.