This policy brief reports on a study of how families and agencies cope with growing waiting periods for community services for adults who have mental retardation or developmental disabilities (MR/DD). Preliminary information looks at reasons for long waits, characteristics of families waiting for services, and impact of adult members with MR/DD on families. A qualitative study, which utilized four focus groups, participant observation of several families, and semi-structured interviews of adults with MR/DD, is then reported. Results are presented in terms of: contributions of adult family members with MR/DD to their families; stressors experienced by adult family members and their families; needs of adults with MR/DD and their families while waiting for services; services currently available to meet needs; services and supports needed but not currently received; barriers to families receiving existing services; involving others in supporting adult members and their families; and support needs during the transition from living at home to living elsewhere. The report concludes that families should not be disadvantaged because they decide to have their adult family member remain at home and that the MR/DD delivery system needs to be looked at in its entirety. (Contains 33 references.) (DB)