Designed for the citizen advocate, the third in a series of four booklets provides basic information on mental retardation and the advocate's role. Reviewed is the history of social attitudes regarding the retarded, and described are the needs of institutinalized and community-living retarded persons. Discussed are emotional, legal, and financial considerations of being an advocate, and suggested are guidelines for protecting the protege's rights. Phases in the typical advocate-protege relationship are analyzed. Appended is the declaration of general and special rights of the mentally retarded developed by the International League of Societies for the Mentally Handicapped. (CL)