Guidelines to Professional Conduct

Preamble

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is a professional organization that advances the knowledge and skills of individuals in the field of mental retardation and related developmental disabilities; strives to enhance the life opportunities of people with mental retardation and their families; and to promote public policies, research, and services which advance individual choices and human rights. The Association has developed guidelines for professional conduct which offer a set of values, principles and standards to guide practitioners in decision-making, especially when ethical issues arise that affect the well-being of persons being supported, the practitioner's employer, or the social good.

Guidelines

1. The practitioner objectively solicits, honors and respects the unique needs, values and choices of the persons being served.
2. The practitioner communicates fully and honestly in the performance of his/her responsibilities and provides sufficient information to enable individuals being supported and others to make their own informed decisions to the best of their ability.
3. The practitioner protects the dignity, privacy and confidentiality of individuals being supported, and makes full disclosure about any limitations on his/her ability to guarantee full confidentiality.
4. The practitioner is alert to situations that may cause a conflict of interest or have the appearance of a conflict. When a real or potential conflict of interest arises the practitioner not only acts in the best interest of individuals being supported, but provides full disclosure.
5. The practitioner seeks to prevent, and promptly responds to signs of abuse and/or exploitation, and does not engage in sexual, physical, or mental abuse.
6. The practitioner assumes responsibility and accountability for personal competence in practice based on the professional standards of his/her respective field, continually striving to increase professional knowledge and skills and to apply them in practice.
7. The practitioner exercises professional judgment within the limits of his/her qualifications and collaborates with others, seeks counsel, or makes referrals as appropriate.
8. The practitioner fulfills commitments in good faith and in a timely manner.
9. The practitioner conducts his/her practice with honesty, integrity, and fairness.
10. The practitioner provides services in a manner that is sensitive to cultural differences and does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or mental or physical disability.