Using data from a survey of 330 parents of developmentally disabled children, the paper examines parents' participation in and attitudes toward special interest groups and political activities. Findings indicate that parents are willing to participate in special interest groups and political activities to a much greater extent than they have actually done so. Organizational involvement is contingent upon the amount of stress experienced by the family, indicated by age of child, severity of the disability, and family income. (Author/CL)