Community involvement of persons with severe retardation living in community residences

A national survey was conducted with 294 community residential facilities (CRFs) serving adults with severe retardation. Respondents were asked to rate 38 community-based activities twice: one rating representing the activity involvement of the residents living in the CRFs, and one rating representing the perceived activity involvement of "average," well-integrated community members. Nonhandicapped community members were perceived to have significantly more involvement in 30 activities than adults living in CRFs. Group home and foster home residents were perceived to be more involved in employment or day activities outside the residence, use of health care services, walking or wheelchair strolling for pleasure, and use of parks or zoos than nonhandicapped community members.