Willowbrook video

The video that we watched today in class about the Willowbrook Institution broke my heart. All the kids in that place deserved so much better living conditions and medical treatment. One of the things that upset me the most was the limited contact that the parents had with their children. In some cases, this was because of the doctors, but in others, the parents wanted nothing to do with their disabled children and didn't want to bother making any effort trying to take care of them. It's as if they just threw them away and waited for them to die. Then, the doctors at these institutions and society in general becomes responsible for their care, which is just as bad, if not worse, because of the lack of education, staff, funds, care, etc. I understand that it's hard to take care of a child with any kind of disability, especially a severe mental handicap, but I've known many cases in which the family makes it work with what limited resources they may have. When I was in elementary school, my best friend at the time had a little sister who was born with Down's Syndrome. The girl was the third of four children, and her parents handled their situation very well. They weren't wealthy, only had your average middle-class income. But they were able to afford a therapist to make (weekly? I can't remember) visits to their home and work with their daughter. By the time she was about four years old, she still couldn't talk and still wasn't potty-trained. However, she was a very happy, well-adjusted child. The parents both worked, and the other children never suffered from any lack of attention from their parents. I understand that this is a rare, more positive case, but it can happen. Having a child with a disability isn't a guarantee that your family life will be miserable or that any other children you have will suffer greatly. Yes, it's very difficult and takes a lot of effort and education, and a whole lot of love, from everyone involved, but it can work out for the best for everyone.

Sarah Bradley