Physical safety and psychological security: Provide appropriate safe guards and enhance perception of security.

Environment as a therapeutic resource: Utilize all aspects of the environment (physical, programmatic and organizational) as a resource for healing and improved functioning.

Holism and well-being: Focus on needs and desires of the whole person social, emotional, spiritual and physical, vocational and intellectual.

Individual rights and personal autonomy: Maximize available choices, opportunities for self determination, and accessibility of options.

Communities and relationships: Generate opportunities for meaningful interactions and relationships among peers, families and staff.

Support of caregivers: Create an environment that promotes safety, efficiency, and emotional support.

Function enhancing technology: Harness new technology to increase functionality of the environment.

Creating and evaluating: Encourage innovation, diversity of approaches, experimentation with new solutions, and systematic evaluation of outcomes.