As a part of my education I was given an assignment to learn about mental institutions from decades ago. One of the most famous in the United States was Willowbrook. It became famous because in 1972 a young Geraldo Rivera visited Willowbrook to do an investigative report. What he found was appalling. People with physical and intellectual disabilities were naked, some half-clothed, eating mush without utensils, feces everywhere. There is a longer documentary but here is a short trailer to give you an idea of what he saw. After watching this you might think what in the world was going on there? Most of the mental health facilities began with every good intention. Willowbrook, the video states, began with a caretaker/ patient ratio of 1:6 but when funding was cut the ratio exceeded 1:30 and beyond. Bathing, feeding, providing social opportunities,learning, etc. would never happen with that type of staffing. Abuses began to occur and because parents were encouraged not to come back to see their children many parents never knew how they were being treated. During the 1980's many residents at institutions were deinstitutionalized and integrated back into society through group homes or placed with family members. Below is a resident who lived at Willowbrook. She uses a board to express her thoughts and ideas so be patient as it sounds very mechanical. She states that the food was so bad she paid a worker to buy her and a friend food. Her verbal skills do not make her any less worthy of a good life, but in the time of mental health institutions if you could not speak for yourself you were assumed "dumb". This woman is smart and expressive. I think that even though we have come leaps and bounds since the 1970's, we, as educators, can still catch ourselves not seeing the potential or talents in a person with disabilities because they speak too slowly or not at all. My passion for giving choices and a strong voice to those with disabilities increases every day.
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AuthorSpecial Education major in a university teaching program. Substitute teacher, previous homeschool mom, wife. Archives
September 2019
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