Observations of current trends in advocacy and services for the developmentally disabled are presented. Discussed are the following four observable environments of the future in terms of the developmental disabilities movement: the systems and organizational environment; the socio-political environment; the technological environment; and the economic environment. Included are suggestions for a strategy for viewing future issues, such as sharpening communication skills, communicating needs to appropriate audiences, and developing a management approach to the provision of services for the developmentally disabled. (BD)