In the early 1990's the first monograph on self-determination (Nerney, T. & Crowley, R., 1994) began with a recitation of "simple truths".

All communities have as members people with disabilities. They are people of worth and value. They belong to family and neighborhoods. They are citizens, fellow workers, customers, and parishioners. They are one of us. Members of our families, our churches, our neighborhoods, people with disabilities who are our friends, our co-workers, our customers, are unwittingly being harmed.