There is a long history of segregating people with disabilities from society. One example was institutionalization, a state-supported system that confined individuals in overcrowded and unhygienic facilities. Public outrage against the system grew after the horrendous conditions of one of these institutions, the Willowbrook State School on Staten Island, in New York City, were exposed.
American Sign Language Interpretation – Willowbrook: A Turning Point
In 1975, Governor Hugh Carey signed the Willowbrook Consent Decree, which mandated reforms around living situations, health care, therapy services, and more for individuals with disabilities. The school was officially shut down in 1987.
The decree marked a turning point in disability rights history and made clear a commitment to dismantling systemic neglect while championing the dignity and inclusion of people with disabilities.
Fifty years later, New York State has moved away from systems of institutionalization to become a state where people with disabilities live, work, and thrive in their communities.