Hillary LeDesma

Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years After Willowbrook- Movie Response

The documentary, Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years After Willowbrook, reveals the
aftermath of the tragedies that took place in Willowbrook for not only its patients, but
also the families that were involved. Willowbrook State School was located in Staten
Island, New York in the 1950s up until the late 1980s. This was one of the largest
Institutions to house children with intellectual and physical disabilities at the time. The
Willowbrook State School is notorious for its mistreatment, experiments, and
questionable operations at the time. One of the biggest problems seen in the documentary
was the over population. The continued to take in children, but funding and budget cuts
left them with less and less staff to accommodate the needs of every individual. The
Institution was meant to have four patients per staff, but towards the end it averages to
thirty patients per staff member. It was documented that most of the children couldnt
clean or feed themselves and this meant they were dangerously neglected and left on their
own without the help they needed. Those who were fed by the staff had to eat within a
two-minute time period so that there was enough time to feed everyone. One of the most
tragic parts of the documentary was the mere neglect most patients experienced. Families
spoke of visiting their siblings or children wondering where the scars and marks came
from. Most staff or doctors had no explanation because they were paid no attention to.
Children were left in large rooms on their own for days. No human contact or care, which
is detrimental to their physical and mental health. I was so shocked to see that this was
how people were treated not too long ago.
The patients were seen as non-humans. They were given no respect and treated as
props not people. It is important to realize that not everybody is the same. During that

Hillary LeDesma
time having a mental or physical disability placed everyone in one large category. They
were quickly rejected from society and often sent to places like Willowbrook State
School. In reality, despite their diagnosis, as people they deserved different treatments,
different foods, different dressing, and different ways to approaching the individuals.
They needed to be treated as individuals. They have the same needs, rights and wants as
anyone, but during that time period they were out-casted. Doctors, Churches, and social
pressures pushed families to put them away in institutions. The documentary described
Willowbrook as an attitude of disrespect for people with handicap conditions. In the story
of Luis Rivera, his doctor in Willowbrook did not care for his health or conditions and
was outraged by the family for asking too many questions he could not answer. Their
mental and physical conditions did not ensure their safety, comfort, or rights.
I do think we have definitely evolved since the making of this video. Due to
recent laws and regulations, people are seen as individuals before their disabilities. It is
important to keep them a part of the community, in-group homes or mainstreamed in
classrooms as much as possible. People instinctly shy away and have fear, but all they
need is compassion. Too often people with disabilities are seen as criminals and not the
victims of our society that they are. I think institutionally there are a lot rules and laws in
place to protect people with disabilities, but I do think there is still a social stigma around
people with disabilities. Were taught to not stare or ask questions. We too often identify
the person with their disability and underestimate them. I think there is always room to
grow and I believe our society is moving towards that change.