On the Issues: Beyond Willowbrook
To meet the criteria of "developmentally disabled," a person must have impairment in the following areas: activities of daily living, self-direction, cognitive ability, and/or social skills. The onset of these conditions must occur prior to 21 years of age and the condition must be life-long.
Public awareness of developmental disabilities has progressed significantly over the past 35 years when children were often, at the recommendation of their physicians, hidden away in institutions where they received few if any services and were merely warehoused.
In 1972, Geraldo Rivera, then a young investigative reporter, did an exposé on Willowbrook State School on Staten Island, revealing horrendous practices of neglect and abuse. Rivera's news coverage helped families of Willowbrook residents bring a class action suit against the State of New York, which resulted in the Willowbrook Consent Decree of 1975. When Willowbrook closed, a number of its former residents came to live in Volunteers of America's Individualized Residential Alternatives program on Staten Island. Today, more than half our clients are former residents of Willowbrook.
Today, 98% of our clients are registered voters, nearly all work or attend day programs, some attend continuing education classes at the local community college and some belong to self-advocacy groups or campaign for important causes like American Heart Walk and Strides Against Breast Cancer.
Raymond has been an IRA resident since 1979. He is a former resident of Willowbrook, where he lived since childhood. Raymond attends a sheltered workshop every day where he refurbishes remote controls and receives a small stipend. He enjoys walking around the neighborhood saying hello to puppies and children, or visiting the local stores. All the shopkeepers know Raymond and look out for him.