This 1973 report outlines Maryland’s early efforts to move people with intellectual and developmental disabilities out of large state-run institutions and into community-based settings. It explains the financial considerations, projected population changes, and service needs that would shape a long-term transition away from institutional care and toward smaller, more individualized residential and training programs . The document emphasizes that successful deinstitutionalization would require phasing out the Rosewood State Hospital, reorganizing programs at remaining facilities, and creating a coordinated system of community supports—including day programs, group homes, vocational training, and employment opportunities.

The report also details the projected capacity, staffing, and capital costs associated with a statewide shift to community living, including estimates for the number of group homes needed, the types of programs individuals would transition into, and anticipated increases in service quality and flexibility (see pages 4–9) . Advocates argued that community-based environments offered improved outcomes and aligned with widely accepted values of least restrictive settings and individualized care. The analysis concludes that Maryland could achieve these goals with careful planning, targeted investment, and phased reduction of institutional beds.