Parent attitudes about working conditions of their adult mentally retarded sons and daughters

As major changes in vocational habilitation strategies are being proposed by the experts in the field of employment services for disabled persons, the attitudes of parents toward the working conditions of their sons and daughters who are mentally retarded warrant careful attention. A mail survey was conducted from a representative sample of 660 parents/guardians whose adult sons/daughters were receiving mental retardation services in the State of Virginia. From demographic and attitudinal information surveyed, a series of one-way ANOVAS showed that parent attitudes toward vocational services for their child were not influenced by age or sex of the adult child or the educational or occupational status of the parent. An analysis of covariance was conducted employing the IQ level of the child and satisfaction with current program placement as the covariate. IQ level showed highly significant effects on parental attitudes even when satisfaction with current program was controlled in this way. Parents and guardians in this sample expressed low interest in specific improvements in working conditions, especially increased wages for their sons/daughters who are mentally retarded. They indicated satisfaction with the current program placements for their adult children. Although most parents/guardians indicated a positive attitude toward work in general for the adult children, only 12% indicated a preference for competitive employment for their adult sons/daughters who are currently consumers of retardation services.