Service Utilization Patterns of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: A Comparison of Puerto Rican and Non-Latino White

ABSTRACT. The increasing ethnic diversity in the U.S. population raises important challenges for community service systems. Little is known about the extent to which service systems meet the needs of different communi-ties of color. This paper examines service utilization and unmet needs of Puerto Rican adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) in comparison to non-Latino white adults with ID to understand better the experiences of midlife and aging families from diverse backgrounds who have entered the service system. In addition, we examine the relationship of maternal sup-port groups to service utilization and unmet service needs. We hypothesize that support groups would be an important resource for Puerto Rican moth-Sandra Magaña and Marsha Mailick Seltzer are affiliated with the School of Socia