MENTAL-RETARDATION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO INTERVENTION

The public and health and law enforcement professionals have finally b ecome aware of the problem of domestic violence among community-dwelli ng women with developmental disabilities such as mental retardation. T his article presents an ecological approach to analyzing factors that contribute to and maintain such abuse. Service needs of women with dev elopmental disabilities who experience domestic violence as well as as sumptions that should underlie treatment ave addressed within an ecolo gical framework. Assessment and individual and group intervention ave discussed, including the development of a personal safety plan. A case example is provided.