Why we need to remember Willowbrook State School.

We need to remember Willowbrook State School. Because Willowbrook State School was a breeding ground for all sorts of human rights violations. Many clients were mentally, emotionally, and physically abused during their stay there. Many were neglected and mistreated by direct care staff and head doctors. Clients were left to fend for themselves.

Willowbrook State School opened in 1947 as a state school operating as a state-supported institution for mentally disabled children in New York City, New York on Staten Island. In its first years of operation, the quality care began to slowly decline. Disease spread rampantly. Hepatitis was common amongst state school residents. In 1955, Willowbrook had a resident population of 4,000.

By 1963, the institution was overpopulated at 6,000 clients over its original capacity of 4,000. By 1965, Senator Robert F. Kennedy left touring the facility and called it a "snakepit". Residents were injected with Hepatitis A for science experiments. Luckily then news reporter Geraldo Rivera exposed Willowbrook State School in 1972 on a news broadcast called “Willowbrook : The Last Great Discgrace”. Geraldo Rivera’s expose prompted the State of New York to launch several investigations of their state schools, state hospitals, and other institutions. Carey vs. NYARC lawsuit is what led to many state institution such as Willowbrook State School to close down and receive the community based services we have today. But luckily the institution was shut down for good and put out of its misery for good by September 1987.