AbstractChanges in adaptive fianctioning subsequent to a group home placement was assessed for deinstitutionalized and previously non‐institudonalized adults with mental retardation. Results indicated that both groups experienced a significant increase in overall adaptive functioning subsequent to group home placement. The results also indicated that neither group experienced a significantly greater increase in adaptive behaviour compared to the other. Additionally, it was found that the deinstitutionalized group functioned at a higher adaptive level overall than did the previously non‐institudonalized group. These results are consistent with previous research regarding the benefits of a group home placement on deinstitudonalized individuals. This research extends previous research by demonstradng that group home placements also have a signi‐ficant impact on the adapdve behaviour of previously non‐institudonalized indi