Attitudes of parents of institutionalized mentally retarded individuals toward deinstitutionalization

Parents of institutionalized mentally retarded persons were surveyed through use of a mailed questionnaire to determine the placement they preferred for their retarded offspring. An overwhelming majority chose the institution over the group home and supervised apartment. Reasons for their choice centered on the availability and quality of supervision, care, and other resources. The resident's age, functioning level, and rated behavior were not related to placement preference.