6 янв 1972 г. - The Willowbrook School Expose

Описание:

In 1972, Geraldo Rivera wrote about the horrific conditions at the Willowbrook State School, which was a facility in Staten Island, NY for children with intellectual disabilities. Willowbrook was opened in 1948, and was advertised as a "safe institution for residents to receive therapy, opportunities, resources, and proper care" (Disability Rights 2023). In reality, the situation at this institution was quite the opposite. There was a severe understaffing of the facilities and very little funding to keep the facility running, which led to inhumane treatment and neglect of the residents living in the facility. A doctor shared with Rivera that 100% of the residents at Willowbrook contracted hepatitis within six months of arrival at the facility, which was one of the issues brought up in the expose (Disability Rights 2023). As a result of this expose, the parents of Willowbrook residents filed a class action lawsuit against the facility. This case shed light on the unfair treatment of children with disabilities, and paved the way for several new laws, legislation, and advocacy groups for people with disabilities. Some of the legislation includes the ADA, Protection ad Advocacy system in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, and the Civil Rights of Institutionalised Persons Act (Disability Rights 2023).

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