Willowbrook State School

Willowbrook State School (/ˈwɪloʊbrʊk/; WIL-oh-brook) was a state-supported institution for children with intellectual disabilities located in the Willowbrook neighborhood on Staten Island in New York City from 1947 until 1987.

Etymology

The name "Willowbrook" comes from the willow trees that once grew abundantly in the area and the brook that ran through the property. The term "State School" was used in the United States during the 20th century to refer to institutions that housed people with intellectual disabilities.

History

The Willowbrook State School was founded in 1947 and was at one time the largest state-run institution for people with mental disabilities in the United States. The school was designed to house 4,000, but by 1965 it had a population of over 6,000. Conditions at the school were poor due to overcrowding and underfunding.

Controversy and Closure

In the 1970s, a series of expose articles and documentaries revealed the inhumane conditions at the school, leading to a public outcry and a class-action lawsuit. The Willowbrook Consent Decree, signed in 1975, was a landmark in the civil rights movement for people with disabilities. The school was closed in 1987.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Willowbrook State School
Wikipedia's article - Willowbrook State School

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Willowbrook State School