Parents with Mental Retardation: Moving Beyond the Myths

As a society we are just beginning to address the logical outcome of community integration: People with mental retardation may marry and choose to have children. In this article, which is a review and synthesis of research from a variety of fields, possible answers to three questions are explored: (1) What are the myths surrounding parents with mental retardation? (2) In what ways can the life experiences of adults with mental retardation impact their parenting? and (3) What are the characteristics of an early intervention program that responds to the needs of parents with mental retardation? The answers to these questions are crucial in creating the context in which early interventionists can respect and build partnerships with parents with mental retardation.