disability -- not a disease.

Two members of the American Association on Mental Retardation told Hamilton Lions that there were several other common disabilities, that due to education, are accepted by the public.

Ms Linda Crocker and Mrs. Judy Fleming jointly run the Human Services Consulting Network in Maryland where they train people with developmental disabilities and their support figures on how disabled people can be incorporated into the work place.

Mrs. Fleming said: "There are many myths and stigmas associated with mental retardation that need to be dispelled.

"Mental retardation is not the same as mental illness, it is not a disease and you cannot catch it.

"Individuals with mental retardation do not want to be like everyone else, they just want to be accepted for who they are.

"And individuals with mental retardation can be meaningful members of society with some support.'' Ms Crocker added: "Through intensive research and curious intellects, we have been able to demystify mental retardation and bring it back down to a level of simple humanity.

"The focus of our coming here is to discuss individuals with mental retardation and integration into the community with specific reference to employment.

"In the United States there have been enormous strides toward employing individuals with mental retardation with the support of the community at large.'' She added that thus far several businesses have helped in employing mentally retarded people.

Mrs. Fleming added: "Unfortunately for the majority of persons with mental retardation, the ability to match one's interests with a meaningful vocation and a meaningful life is difficult, if not impossible.

"More and more agencies throughout the United States are now realising how important this is to all people and are providing opportunities to facilitate a working and living environment that enables the individual with mental retardation to realise the same sense of fulfilment that you and I gain from our chosen vocations and everyday life.'' Mrs. Fleming and Ms Crocker will be guest speakers on integrating the mentally retarded into the society at the Wesley Methodist Church Hall in Hamilton at 7 p.m. tonight.