The Evolution of Care for Individuals with Disabilities in NYS: An Exploration of the Positive Outcomes from New Laws on the Lives of Individuals with Disabilities

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of care and treatment for individuals with disabilities in New York State psychiatric institutions, focusing on the transformative impact of legal reforms and advocacy that have taken place over the last century. Exposs such as Geraldo Rivera's investigation of Willowbrook State School and Letchworth Village have exposed the horrific conditions faced by patients in these institutions. By investigating the historical mistreatment within these "specialized" institutions like Letchworth Village and Willowbrook State School, research shows a transition toward improved care conditions and rights for individuals with disabilities. Landmark cases like The Protection and Advocacy System in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of that same year, The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980 and eventually the Americans with Disabilities Act brought into effect by President George W Bush in 1990, reveal the rise of care for disabled Americans has significantly increased but still needs federal mending. Making sure to emphasize the substantial changes that emerged from landmark cases and legislation, my project aims to describe the positive changes and developments in disability care and the ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable treatment and integration into society for these individuals whose care has been belittled and denied in the past.