Making a Community Whole

Around the mid 1900's, people with intellectual disabilities were basically not seen as a person. Many families institutionalized other family members with disabilities. By institutionalizing people with intellectual disabilities allowed the families to pretend the person did not exist. The institutions took care of the people with intellectual disabilities, and the families had no responsibilities.

On the contrary, the institutions were poorly kept, and the people living there did not have a decent quality of life. The people living there were abused, physically and mentally. They were not getting fed the proper nutrition or receiving the appropriate amount of physical activity. Most people were basically left to die in the institutions without anyone caring for them.

More recently, progress has been made to keep people with intellectual disabilities at home and active in the community. Even though some people have disabilities, they are still human and deserve a good quality of life. Luckily, most institutions have closed down, and more people with intellectual disabilities are living at home with family.

There have been many laws passed to make sure people with intellectual disabilities receive an appropriate education. Many companies are looking past disabilities and hiring people with intellectual disabilities. People of different backgrounds volunteer to help advocate for programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Communities are finally becoming whole, including people with and without intellectual disabilities.