Forty-nine adults with learning disabilities living in 13 small staffed homes in England were studied as part of larger projects in 1997 and again in 2000. A pre-test/post-test comparison group design was used to assess differences in staff implementation of "active support," service user engagement in meaningful activities and adaptive behaviour. Homes which adopted active support showed significantly increased engagement in meaningful activity and adaptive behaviour between 1997 and 2000. A comparison group showed no significant change.