WHAT DO PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH MODERATE AND SEVERE MENTAL DISABILITIES WANT

Twenty-five studies were reviewed which surveyed parents of children w ith moderate to severe mental disabilities to determine their wishes, needs, and/or satisfaction with various services and aspects of servic es provided to them and their children. Most of the studies were condu cted between 1985 and 1994. They investigated a variety of issues incl uding what parents wanted their children to learn, what type of school setting they desired, what type and degree of involvement the parents desired with the schools, their levels of satisfaction with school, p reschool, and community based services, and their needs and plans for their children as adults. Ways in which professionals can best address the wishes and needs of parents are presented in the conclusion of th e paper.