The year is 1972, New York City.
News has erupted concerning the conditions found in Willowbrook State School, a state-funded institution located in Staten Island, meant to house the developmentally disabled. These are people, mostly children who were born with conditions that caused difficulty in either learning, physical movement, and/or other behavioral areas, some of which include autism, down syndrome, and fetal alcohol syndrome.
Most of this news came from an exposé conducted by Geraldo Rivera, and it revealed many disturbing sights: naked children rocking back and forth on the cold floor, staff so short-changed and short-handed that they could only dedicate a few minutes of feeding time to each patient, fecal matter spread across the walls, the list goes on.
But Willowbrook wasn’t the only place where this was happening. And, the history of such cases runs far deeper.
Ever since the mid 19 century, organizations dedicated to serving the developmentally disabled have been well established not only in New York City, but in other states across the country. However, due to the lack of scientific and technological breakthroughs of the time, both professionals and the general public did not have a great understanding of developmental disabilities as they do today, resulting in a continuous effort from both advocates and legislatures to provide ways for the developmentally disabled to thrive and live a flourishing life.
Still, even with all the recent breakthroughs in science, technology, and psychology of the 20th century, scandals such as Willowbrook still happened. Unfortunately, in most cases, situations like these will continue to happen as long as the general public has but a vague idea if not any understanding of what these disabilities are and how they affect individuals.
This section of the exhibition is meant to help spread that awareness to the general public. Oftentimes, public health is only thought of in terms of dangerous outbreaks and how to prevent them through a holistic lens of the general public. While the developmentally disabled may only represent a portion of the entire population, they are still nonetheless an important part of society and should be treated as such. It is important for public health officials, as well as the general public, to think more about the developmentally disabled and how to best serve them, especially in times of a public health crisis.
Table of Contents
In order to spread awareness, we have four chapters that cover integral parts of the histories about developmental disabilities.
Chapter 1: Dorothea Dix – From Sunday School Teacher to Advocate
Dorothea Lynde Dix was one of the first American advocates for the developmentally disabled She has set the foundation for reform in these institutions and related social programs. Heavily influenced by her religious upbringing, she was horrified at what she saw while undergoing a 2-year journey visiting the various mental institutions in Massachusetts. She urged Congress to treat these patients with the dignity they deserve, an idea that was heavily tied to the ideals outlined in Christianity.
Still, as the nation began to subscribe to a more secular culture in the 20th century, this moral argument is still a common and effective argument used in advocacy, which is why Dix is still celebrated in history today.
Chapter 2: Deinstitutionalization
Chapter 2 covers life at Willowbrook, an infamous institution for individuals with developmental disabilities that facilitated their abuse and mistreatment. Exposing that mistreatment was a catalyst for deinstitutionalization, the movement to replace larger institutions with small-scale group homes so individuals can receive the proper care. This chapter shows the necessity of providing the proper environment to allow individuals with developmental disabilities to live life to the fullest and integrate into the wider community.
Chapter three covers the special education legislature, the ruling of the Willowbrook case, important advocacy groups in New York City, and the impact of COVID-19 on special education students. This chapter is important because it shows how students with developmental disabilities are being treated in schools and what regulations have been put in place to further protect them. This spreads awareness about the current situations that students with developmental disabilities face due to COVID-19, and resources that the public can refer to, to know what their loved ones with developmental disabilities have within the school system to ensure that they are getting equal educational opportunities.
Lastly, chapter four covers advocates and advocacy groups in New York City. As more legislation is formed supporting people with disabilities, more awareness is needed in acknowledging the advocates and advocacy groups that are relentlessly fighting for equality for those with disabilities. Many advocates and funds were set up to grant these individuals with opportunities and the equality they were once denied. Therefore, this chapter shed light on a few prominent advocates that helped change lives for people with disabilities drastically.