3. Willowbrook is often referred to as ground zero for the civil rights movement for people with developmental disabilities. How did Willowbrook impact society? Discuss two changes that can be directly linked to the Willowbrook State School.
Answers
A watershed case in the evolution of the legal rights of people with disabilities to live in dignity arose out of public awareness of the horrific conditions under which children and adults with disabilities were living at the Willowbrook State Developmental Center in New York. This case set important precedents for the humane and ethical treatment of people with developmental disabilities living in institutions. This, in turn, served as the impetus for accelerating the pace of community placements for people with developmental disabilities, expanding community services, increasing the quality and availability of day programs, and establishing the right of children with disabilities to a public education.
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Inhumane Conditions at Willowbrook
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