IN A SPEECH AT THE 17TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDREN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S 1966 REPORT OUTLINES GAINS AND EMPHASIZES SHORT-RANGE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND GOALS FOR THE FUTURE. ISSUES REQUIRING SPECIAL ATTENTION ARE ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING, THE LAW, AND FORMS OF GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH CRITERIA ARE PROVIDED. THE ROLE OF RESEARCH IN THE PREVENTION OF RETARDATION AND THE FUTURE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDREN ARE REVIEWED. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED TO THE ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDREN (17TH, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, OCTOBER 21, 1966). (JW)