The effects of program termination on community participation by developmentally disabled adults

Funding cuts in health care programs are now commonplace, and result in termination of many valuable and needed services. One such program so affected which served adults with developmental disabilities inspired a follow-up study to see the effect of loss of the program on the clients it had served. Board and care facilities served by the habilitation program were rivisited one year later, and interviews were held with past participants to identify their current involvement in community activities and how they felt about closure of the former program. The findings point to the importance of the "benefactors" in the initial adjustment to community living and to the need for continued or extended support for individuals who have experienced long-term institutionalization.