Place of residence by age, ethnicity, and level of retardation of the mentally retarded/developmentally disabled population of California.

California's data on their mentally retarded/developmentally disabled population, the largest set in the United States, were accessed to determine residency of clients by age, ethnicity, and level of retardation. Data on the desired variables were available for over 59,000 of the 64,000 clients in the records. Despite claims of excess institutional population and the availability of residential alternatives, 52.5% of all persons resided in their natural homes; small family care units held 14.2% of the population and institutions, 12.8%, these being the second and third among the eight types of residences identified by the state. The proportion of the population in the natural home decreased with age and level of retardation, dropping precipitously among profoundly and severely impaired persons. Anglo-white families kept fewer (44%) at home than did blacks, Latinos, and other ethnic groups combined.