In the shadow of Fairview: full documentary | Oregon Experience 

My sister was born in 1978 with a severe form of muscular dystrophy. Doctors told my mom it would be best for everyone if she were institutionalized. My mom refused, took her home, and did her best to raise a confident and adept child. Though wheelchair-bound and unable to use her arms or legs, my sister went on study at Stanford University. By age 27 she had earned 2 bachelors degrees, 2 masters degrees, and a PhD. She is now a tenured professor, mother, published author, painter, and has travelled the world.

I am in tears watching this. My wife and I live in Oregon and my wife is now developmentally disabled an accident she had 10 years ago. I love her with all of my heart and would never ever ever consider sending her anywhere. It's unbelievable to me. I feel so bad for these folks.

My mom worked at Fairview for a couple years in the mid 70's. I just remembered how much it distressed her. Now I see why. She talked about how they would just put them all in a gymnasium during the day with just a couple of people to watch them. Many of whom had helmets on. She eventually quit a day she got bit in the arm by a male client. Took a chunk out of her upper arm. One of my very good friends from high school worked there in the 90s. Eventually she took some on at home at foster children. After many years of that and when the group home began she now runs several group homes and is the staff director of several group homes. It takes a special person to do that kind of work. She is one of them. I grew up only 12 miles away. I can remember people calling it Shangri-la...

Thank God for parent advocates. My son has asp. autism. I'm glad we didnt have him back then. We LOVE him and he makes life joyful. He is 19 now and has always been a sweetheart, loves us, we love him. We will do all we can to make sure he has a happy life. I would never let this happen to him. EVER!

Hearing the statement ''It would be better if you were never born'' is about the most vile thing I have ever heard. How can anyone adopt a world view like that? There isn't even any logic to it unless you are as cold as ice and see these people as baggage we need to dispose of. I sometimes can't believe I am living in a world like this. People with disability need to come first because they need our support and love. It should be instinctual to care for our fellow human beings.

I’m so blessed that my parent took my eldest brother home who was born in 1948 and passed away in 1968, I was 5 years old I remember Eddy until this day, and I miss him so much, Eddy you were so loved my your entire family ♥️🇨🇦🌏

Omg as a teacher for 34 years working with children with all kinds of disabilities, down syndrome, autistic , some children with rare genetic disorders .This break my heart that they had to live like this.Thank God we have come along way and we still have a long way to go. Hopefully they have found peace where ever they are.

I worked for two years at a school for mentally disabled adults (that was the politically-correct term back then). I can say with 100 percent honesty that it was a wonderful place. It was not residential, rather a day school. The students, ranging in age from 19 to 71, were taught music, hygiene, some kitchen skills and reading, writing, etc., according to their capabilities. We had field trips to zoos, parks, movies, restaurants. It was a Christian-staffed school, and the students were treated, always, with love, respect and patience. My time there honestly changed my life.

I work with developmentally disabled individuals who grew up in Canadian institutions and it breaks my heart the stories I have heard of things they endured. The torture perpetrated on people with mental illness and developmental disabilities is a dark and shameful chapter in history. Heartbreaking.

I work for “NW Community Alliance” and to be completely honest, I consider this one of the best and influential jobs I’ve ever had. It doesn’t feel like Job, it’s getting the opportunity to learn about such beautiful people, and how I can do my part in awareness, advocacy, and being a voice for those who aren’t heard. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT🙌🏽

I cant imagine how heartbroken these kids were being left in an institution. So sad.

"I thought it was going to be really cool, but it wasn't". That was a shot in the heart. God bless them all.

EVERYONE DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND THOSE WHO HAVE MENTAL DISABILITES NEED TO BE TREATED RESPECT AND THEY ALSO HAVE FEELINGS THEY WANT LOVE LIKE EVERYONE

Thank you for posting this. Disability rights is something I’m very passionate about as a person that would’ve been institutionalized if I had been born just a few decades earlier. We still have a lot of work to do but I hope that people learning about our history will help them understand that.

In the 1990's, my mom worked at an Adult Foster Care home here in Michigan which was actually quite large compared to most. The majority of those my mom cared for back then at this facility were folks that more than likely grew up in these same institutions seen in this video. I recall my mom talking about those who lived there that had no reason at all for ever living in that type of environment other than the fact they just got caught up in the system and had nowhere else to go at that point. The facility my mom worked at was well maintained and those folks were very well cared for. The community around it also got to know the residents who would regularly go for walks to the store etc. I even recall a few residents giving my mom gifts to give to me and these folks didn't even know me but knew she had a young son at home. Then the lovely government went a step further and tossed salt into these residents wounds from years of being shuffled around by completely cutting funding to these private operators. This in turn caused Medicare/Medicaid payments to stop which then caused the whole facility to close putting these residents either onto the streets or into smaller group homes which were not as well supervised so this caused many of these folks to just spiral downwards on far too many levels where they end up on the sex offender list, on drugs and alcohol, in prison etc.

The cost is still huge. It is just that we don't hear as much about it. Group homes are expensive as are nursing homes. A lot of former Fairview residents ended up on the street. There are abusive situations in those places as well because there are always bad people everywhere.

I began my social service career in 1994 working with adults who were transitioning out of Fairview into group homes. The stories I've heard from those who can talk are horrific. The stories from those who can't talk are even worse. You can see it in their behavior. Shoveling food in their mouths so fast before someone could take it away. The crying, the violence towards themselves and others. Some group homes are just as bad as Fairview. The residents go without and depend on food stamps while someone at the top takes all of their money, cared for by staff who are inexperienced and overworked, not to mention underpaid. Those jobs are minimum wage. A handful of group homes are great. The residents know their rights, they have plenty of money, burial plans, real jobs, friends and even romantic relationships. They go on trips, and have family and caring staff. Who still make minimum wage. I worked for a great company for 13 years and still have relationships with many of my former residents. My four children grew up with them. We always had someone home with us on holidays.

As someone who works with people of special needs, this video needs to Watched be shared. Respect to them all. Sad times

I have a congenital disability, mild learning disability, and alot of issues with mental illness. I shudder to think what would have happen to me had I been born even 10 or 15 years previous.

I'm so incredibly thankful for living in this day and age and not 150 years ago. I'm autistic, have gad, chronic depression, chronic ptsd and I also have a masters in history and one in education. I'd never have had that chance before

As a social worker I assisted developmentally disabled adults in the community. Some had small (2 to 3) group homes, others lived in what Maine calls Shared Living, where they live with a family or couple who is paid to look after them. But there are major funding issues and there is now a long wait list for 18 to 21 year olds to get the funding to have some sort of supported living. Meanwhile they are living with aging parents/relatives who can struggle with difficult, sometimes aggressive behaviors on their own. Big institutions or small homes don't make a difference, it is having enough quality staff that are paid well that will make a change.

Kudos needs to be given to those who brought Special Education up to a new progressive level. These new advocates are educated unlike the generations before them

They don't talk about other issues. Some clients went home for visiting and came back pregnant. The understaffing, over crowding was just one of the major problems.

This is so hard to watch,but I am so glad these changes were made.My Granddaughter is mentally challenged.She will stay with us as long as we live.

Great documentary! Its been a long time since I have felt such overwhelming mixed emotions from angry, disgusted,sad, in disbelief, to tears of awe , happy, and even proud of these true heros of inspiration!!

My heart goes out to the people who suffered so much..

Glad reading the comments and seeing how many wonderful people are in the world. Who truly care about others!! I work at an adult foster home for adults working on their mental health… They are like family and we have such a nice happy home. I am going to school to be a social worker so I can better help my community by empowering people. Again, caring people really warm my heart!! I’m glad Fairview was closed down. It makes sense for more personalized care in homelike environments than a big scary institution. I know lots of abuse still happens… I hope we can put better checks and balances in place…. And yes increase pay for caregivers so that good people can afford to stay in these caring positions!

No one is better than another ... it brought tears to my heart too 💔

I have MS and although I'm still able to live on my own, eventually I might not be able to. I'm glad things have changed a lot but we all know there is still abuse happening in nursing homes and such. I will fight as long as I possibly can to remain independent and stay out of evil people's hands.

My beloved uncle with Down's Syndrome lived there for years. Luckily, he had a vast extended family who checked on him and his well being almost weekly. We could drop in for a spontaneous visit whenever we wanted. He spent a lot of time with his family who lived very close, and, when it was time to go back to Fairview, he always seemed peaceful and happy with it. He had a job there, and he lived a long life. He passed away of natural causes at 74 years old. Our uncle could not lie, and we often asked him specific questions about his safety. He always indicated he really liked it there. We never got a negative answer from him. The staff loved him, and he had a certain amount of status because of his personality, and willingness to contribute to the community. He was a high-functioning person who grew up with 21 siblings on a family farm. He passed away before Fairview began to deteriorate. I daresay that Fairview was a far sight better than the Portland streets to which mentally handicapped persons are relegated these days in more "modern" times.

Just found out my great Aunt Irene died there in 1944. It's heartbreaking what happened at this hospital.

My father spent time at the state hospital in Salem in the early 70s. It was a voluntary placement. I remember visiting him and walking through the underground tunnels that still had chains on the walls where patients would be attached and left. By the early 70s, things had vastly improved. It helped my dad really turn his life around.

I went to School & High School in Oregon in the 70's and graduated in the early 80's and back then a lot of High Schoolers in Oregon got the chance to go on a Field Trip to this exact institution if you took Psychology type Classes in High School and I got to go. I will never forget it either. I remember feeling very sorry for all of them not because of their disability, but because they had to live there. There was a young man who wore suspenders and all he wanted to do is follow us around and watch us while we were given a tour through the place. You could tell that he was just curious with all of us because that was probably one of the only times that he seen other people besides the ones in the institution with him. It just breaks my heart to see all them in this video, especially the ones with Down Syndrome.

My mom was badly abused by her family, and one time it broke my heart she said she felt safe when she was at an orphanage cause she wouldn’t be sexually abused anymore. She was probably in elementary grade age. That comment broke me. To me orphanage sounds like one of the worse places you could be, but to her there were worse places at the hands of her family

I worked in a state institution many years ago, and then in various group homes over the years. May God bless all the residents. God bless Amanda and her mother. The govt did not plan the big deinstitutionalization very well. Having seen both sides I'm all for the group homes ( and there have been problems in them, too) and there are still individuals with such highly specialized needs that they require more of a hospital type setting. Overall, I'm glad the institutions closed.

Thank you for uploading this. I am a support worker for DD folks, and more people need to know about this aspect of Oregon’s history. One of my current clients was actually a resident of Fairview in the 80’s and 90’s

I really appreciate OPB doing this great documentary, very interesting. I lived in Salem, Oregon about 5 years and was always so intrigued by all the history there. I often bicycled around or thru downtown to my office at S. Commercial & Madrona. A friend of mine lived a few blocks from the Capital bldg & we used to walk or bike along State Street right by the former hospital that was the setting for the movie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest filmed there in the 70's. Those old bldgs were still in use by the state for medical care, prison services, laundry, etc. I remember the stories about prisoners escaping thru the underground tunnel system that connected to the former State Mens Prison across the road (by then it had become the State Womens Prison). Anyway, in 1994-98, I worked in South Salem off Commercial a few miles north of the old Fairview complex & I believe by then it had been almost completely shut down. A few years later in about 2005 I visited my friends in that S. Salem area & the Fairview entrance roads were closed off but think the state still owned the land & perimeter area had nice multi-use trails. Great history video by OPB!

This program had me in tears it was very well done

As a nurse, I took care of many of the children you see in the beginning of this film at Eastern Oregon Training Center in Pendleton.

I used to volunteer there in the school when I was 15 yrs old. I felt so horrible for these kids and adults! 😢❤

For some of these children I think it was used as really horrible foster home.

I worked in group homes in Eugene and Portland from the early 90s into the 2010s. Took care of many folks from both OSH and Fairview. Saw how they mostly deteriorated physically. Heard about their abuse, and sometimes, heard nothing because they were abandoned long ago, and so no paperwork, no history. I also worked with people OSH refused to care for. Residential Group Homes were the late, late remedy for the sickness of the asylums. That eugenics crap is horrible. I'm glad I did all that work as I ended up having a special- needs kid. ❤️

This was wonderful and sad at the same time. My cousin Richard was institutionalized for Down syndrome in the late 1960’s. He passed away there a few months later.

another unfortunate reality is even the clients who can talk, most people DO NOT listen to them and take them seriously or hold their words with ayn real weight, i know, i saw this constantly in the community based services, and voc rehab service groups, most of the workers do not take what a client says all that seriously, they often out right dont believe them, and the ones who cannot talk, they DO communicate , but through other means like: sounds, gestures, signs, behaviors, , people do not tune in, pay attention and listen to what they are trying to tell.

I lived in Salem, Fairview was part of our community everyone heard of it I even visited several times, I had no idea of abuse or that people didn't want to be there ,it was the 1960s. I'm very sad to know this.

God bless all those people. There's so much pain and sadness in this world and in these places. I'm scared of what's going to happen to me. Please pray for me. God bless you.

My mother worked there years ago for a short time. She had to quit because it made her so depressed. Us kids would spend time out there. This is so sad.

unfortunately, the same levels of general disrespect, physical, and verbal abuse, happens very common in so called ''community services'' and group homes, i know, i seen plenty, i worked for 20 years in adult social services, in 3 different states, and i saw and frequently reported this n that care worker mistreating clients, it is more common than youd think. the big institutions are not common any more but the same mind set and ill- treatment of these people is sadly still a major issue. - also its not uncommon for parents and guardians to over step bounds ( being extremely controlling, nor presuming competence , limiting and hindering them, not allowing them to grow and have experiences so they can have even the slightest chance of growing and learning. --- the guardians and they get away with it, because '' thats their guardian'' when the advocates are supposed to be stepping in and making sure the parents / guardian is not further limiting them, which they often do.

Even as a long standing nurse who underarm and loves history it makes me tear up watching these documentaries. Thanks for posting

I grew up in Salem. It’s interesting to see how hard of a fight people with disabilities had and still have to be free and to be thought of as humans. I know some of the people on this documentary.

It's wonderful that Oregon, as a state, is willing to be open about these atrocities. Every state has it's nightmare stories, but you don't hear about it. I can attest to the fact that care homes in the county I used to live in in Oregon are well managed and are clean. It's important that the disabled people who live in them are happy. I've seen a lot of happy people with mental conditions living in these homes. The money spent is well worth it! Other states need to follow Oregon's lead.

OMG how this went on and continued, not just there but all over the world, breaks my heart knowing how they were treated and how they suffered, I worked with people with special needs and they are like you and I but just needed a little extra care. Hopefully things have improved over the years, couldn't be any worse. What an eye opener.

Thank you for sharing this video. 👍

I took care of some of the people who were released from Fairview and placed in group homes at the beginning of the 2000’s. Some of the things I read in these peoples files were horrific. Most of them had endured a lifetime of horror, abuse and neglect.

I began working in 1974 with people who had developmental disabilities or delays. And gosh, I hope I'm using an ok term because terms have changed so much since then. Most people came from large group homes and nursing homes, where unfortunately some people had been placed. I really enjoyed my work. My then husband was the director of a work activity center these people attended. He went to the very first People First Convention at Otter Rock, but we couldn't afford for me to also go. I did attend the 2nd one though and it was incredible. And I attended every convention thereafter for many years. No idea the group had spread to other states or internationally. I went to work in different group homes until 1993 when I became a nurse. I only left the field because the pay was simply not a sustainable living wage. That was the truth from 1974 onward, sad to say. I simply had to have a job that allowed me to replace items in my life that were breaking and I needed good benefits. There's a missing piece of this story that's just not addressed. In '81 I began working at a facility that was funded by the federal government and had similar regulations as Fairview did. These included nurses, way better staffing than Fairview, PT, OT, speech therapy, training program s, Recreation Director ( my job) daytime work for our residents, community schools etc and etc. There were several places similarly funded in the same manner in Oregon. And they were considered exemplary places for Fairview to place their residents. Parents also chose these types of facilities. A group of parents also had started similarly funded place west of Salem, and there were other places in Oregon with the same funding and requirements as Fairview. These types of facilities had more medical care and were wheelchair accessible, unlike most group homes at that time. We'd also good federal reviews. Around '87 we got a terrible review. And so did every other facility that funded by the Federal government. We were told we abusive to our residents, which was not true. Other accusations were not true either. We were cited and going to lose our funding, so everyone scrambled to change the things we could. But I was in contact with those other facilities and I nothing any of them did seemed to fix the problems with their reviews either. I saw the writing on the wall. Basically the government did not want to pay for this level of care any longer. It would have so much more helpful if this intent had just been stated at the beginning instead of demoralizing all the staff working in these places. The owner and the director of my facility finally just told the review team that they could NOT and WOULD NOT keep trying to comply with further requests. The review team was aghast. Hadn't encountered this before. Suddenly they were responsible for finding new living places for 29 people! And so 6 new 5 bedroom houses had to be built by the State. And it took a year and a half. Our staff was dedicated to our residents. Some made corporations and bid for the homes. Some of us stayed on working until a group homes was ready and went with our people to work there. My group was the last to leave, these were the most medically fragile of our residents. I and about 5 of us went to work in that group home in Dec 1987. I don't know how the other facilities handled things, but I do know they were all closed within a couple of years . There were a few of our residents who moved away from our core group of workers and providers. And I don't know how they fared, except for a couple of people. 3 ended up in nursing homes, one died there within a year and another ended up being physically abused. Another who was very medically stable and very verbal had some of her long time medicines changed. She developed chronic seizures, depression, and bed sores which required skin grafts. She'd never had bed sores before. Ever!. The folks who were placed where staff who knew them them did fine. And I think they were much happier in the 5 bed group homes. Some even moved into their own apartments with the support person of their choice. We all knew about the man who died of dehydration after his group home placement and appalled. So, that's my piece of the de-funding picture that nobody really seems to know about. Because I married a man who'd had a career at Fairview, and I became close to a teacher from there and a nurse who'd worked there I know quite a bit of the earlier history. I also knew and recognized some of the people who were interviewed in this documentary. Very interesting.

Heart breaking, poor kids ❤️‍🩹

It isn't that long ago that Epileptics were considered possessed by the devil or bad entities. They suffered many unjust procedures ,trepanning for example. Let us be thankful they and other people with brain issues are treated better today,a better understanding.

Perhaps a minor detail..developmentally disabled persons have a disability that exists at birth, even though the symtoms may not appear until they are older. They do not occur as the result if the accident. Sadly we had a similar facility in PA called Pennhurst. Much love to those who experienced such trauma.

Poor children with disabilities, very unfortunate. You cannot put a price on your health and wellbeing

“We ask for change, we demand change!” God bless them for helping people who can barely speak up for themselves. It really breaks my heart to see children in conditions like this. To take advantage of anyone who is vulnerable is weak and absolutely disgusting. It’s sad to see the way others viewed people with disabilities and to see how they were treated. I’m glad that changes were made.

It's hard to imagine this place was open until 2000

This hurts deep down the suffering these human being's went through is beyond upsetting . These institutions talked in code, treatment ment torture. The people right up to the 20th century taught that it was OK for this deprivation to be happening right under their noses. What was their belief system of the middle and upper classes about the poor, and the way they were to be treated. Dog's maybe . Humanity wasn't one of the virtues that was used in these place's or in the world then, just evil . ☘️😔

I'm a 40 year old man and seldom cry, but, seeing those poor babies in cages tore me up something chronic. I don't know how anyone could see those kids and not want to just take them home and save them from these nightmarish horrors. I am so shocked by this documentary, I can barely find words to describe how I feel.

I worked in a place very simular and it broke my heart. I was left in the charge in lock up ward, I was only in my second year. Although I qualified my psychiatric trainingI stuck to generl nursing. Just couldn't deal with the babybward, some inmates in cots were 30 yeas old, yep 30 yeas just fed turned and nappies changed wether they were due or not.Horrible place to work it haunts me to this day.

God bless them all! Such strength and self empowerment is just amazing. Lots of peace, love, happiness and hugs from this little cherry. Thank you so much for posting the video. Everyone take care, take it easy and be safe

I grew up in Salem in the 60s and 70s. It was weird to find out that Fairview had closed after 2000, because I had heard it had closed before I graduated high school in Salem in the 1970s. I remember when the film crew for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was in town. A friend of mine went to an extra casting call.

After working for years with adults with DD in Oregon, I think I can safely say that every client I've worked with who resided at Fairview in the 70's and 80's was sexually abused. Horrible place. I'm so glad they finally got it shut down.

More power to the peoples have a cared & loved to the peoples in disabilities GODBLESS

"Were there staff that abused patients? Sure but we weeded them out" How flippant! I worry that she was one of them.

I live down the block.. They have built a large apartment complex on the site.. Its a huge site. I would not ever live on those grounds

So very sad how these humans, babies, toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults of all ages were treated. God please help them all and RIP to the others. 😪😪❤️❤️🙏🙏

I would think that all of the children didn't need to be there. Putting your child in an institution back then was just what parents did. The stigma of having a child with these disabilities brought shame to the families so shutting them away from the rest of the community was common practice. Some needed to be in an institution with the severity of their disability with people that knew how to help them but like here things aren't always good for the residents. I watched a documentary on another place like this with Revera and it was a nightmare of a place. No proper care just put them all in one room and leave them and it was like slopping pigs when feeding them. They didn't know how to feed themselves. It was just horrible. They were nude and went to the bathroom wherever they sat and then usually that ended up everywhere. But a lot didn't know what was going on but the people that mistreated them knew what they were doing was wrong. Society is cruel and throughout the years and better education and understanding and most of all laws being enforced things have improved I would hope. I don't know personally about how things are but I would hope they are greatly improved.

It would have beneficial to both the staff and residents, that the families were expected to come in at least twice a week to help care for their family members. Should have been in the contract. The state Institutions should have expected the parents support of both some money and time in the care of their loved ones.

NOT trying to take away from any of the residents of Fairview but many of those that they talked with and were allowed to speak out were far more eloquent and intelligent than some of this nation's leaders are today. Fairview was a tragedy that should never have been allowed to happen. Hiring convicted sexual predators should have been a felony crime punishable by life with no parole!

These large institutions were and are an excellent concept. But crucially government needs to fund totally, and there requires highly trained skilled work force and administration, part of the funding is to highly pay all staff that are employed there. Equal to these demands constant checks and balances been audited regularly by highly paid independent organizations. The current dire situation are sick, homeless, addicted, severely mental illness, incarceration and suicide. Families are totally overwhelmed by the needs of this family member, (in an appropriate institution setting, likely this same individual could have 24 hours care with up to 12 specialist clinicians) We are as civilized as the level of care we give to our poor, ill, and mentally disabled. So welcome to our world, the world of the vicious, greedy and ruthlessly cruel. If I'm wrong, show me the government that will save these people.

This is just so sad...People should never be thrown away and that is what they did or told to do..

I've spent the night in Fairview now under Edgefield It is a resort with a spa brewery, hotel and restaurants entertainment, movie theater and a music venue. With really good wine. Beautiful gardens. But it still has an Erie filling of a bad past. Unfortunately most of the people have been on the Streets homeless for years.

God does not make mistakes disabled person is a blessing to people and some way for the Glory of God

Human is the true monster Im crying watch this ' all humans have right to live and treat with love GOD is almighty

my grandmother had two daughters one with Cleft palate and the other one was spina bifida and they wanted them to go there my grandmother refused

Thank you for the great documentary!

They are people, that need Love, attention, and special care. It’s time for every state to have CLEAN ,well staffed, facilities. That will give patients good care & respect!

This report shows how what is thought of as the best of intentions can lead to the worst of systems. Eugenics was considered an acceptable, even altruistic idea. When the individual is not as important as the convenience of the society, horrors will result, even under the guise of "improvement."

I was born and raised in Portland OR ( Fairview is a suburb of Portland) I never knew children lived there I thought it was just adults.. how sad..😞

I feel so inspired by all of the people who are advocating for themselves and one another. The history of Fairview is dark and sad, but it's amazing to see how far things have progressed. People first!

God bless Amanda and her birth mother.

Take a closer look around America NOTHING HAS CHANGED

My heart goes out to anyone with disabilities, but we must keep in mind that families years ago were even less capable of caring for those with special needs. The families were much larger, the income was much smaller, and they didn't have all the healthcare, adequate housing and services we're so fortunate to have today. There were no medicines or reliable treatments for schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression, birth defects, etc . Today, the medical field is infinitely more advanced. Before judging the people of the past, perhaps we should remember that today, people with many of these same kinds of conditions are living in tents, scrounging for food in dumpsters. Some with mental issues are seriously harming, even killing, innocent citizens, and the only "care" they receive, in many cases, is a prison sentence (which some may argue is better than life on the streets). Even our elderly, who years ago would have been cared for until death by adult family members, are now simply sent off to a nursing home and forgotten. How is any of that any better? Maybe it's just easier to point a finger away from ourselves.

Heart breaking. And it’s worse that psychiatric units still have levels of abuse. Not anything compared to what the abuse use to be, but it shows we aren’t educated enough on mental health, or the dangers that come within psychiatric walls.

Oh my God....🥺

I remember in my small town Springfield Tennessee there was a place called Clover Bottom and has children we were told all these stories that went on there we had never been really been exposed to children with learning or mental challenges or uncontrollable Behavior. So I know I never understood it at that time. I just new of the stories that some would tell was a horror movie in real life. A lot of the parents and older children even School teachers would threaten kids with going to Clover Bottom due to bad behavior or a list of things that all adolescents go through. But then they closed it one day, the state came in and shut it down. I assume with no warning it was kind of a scandal from what I remember. This was in the early to Middle '70s. And then six or seven years later it came out that a lot of things going on there people should have been put in prison for and doctors nurses AKA caregivers I guess that suddenly retired or just went away in such a little town rumor was everywhere. Later we found out most was true the worst of the worst stories that today hopefully could never go on so openly and knowingly. I think Society in those days because of the isolation of these places and even how families of these children could be frowned upon as though they had done something wrong by having a mentally or physically challenge child it seemed as though they all turned a blind eye. That always bothered me even at the age of 13 and 14 the parents and people that I and other people highly respected and trusted that were good people but at the same time to keep silent their little towns secret but to know about it and not stop it bothered me even then has a child maybe more has it bothers me now. But Sunshine is truly the best disinfectant hopefully the ones incarcerated there were finally treated with respect that a every human deserves.

One thing I don’t understand about society. If somebody has a developmentally, disabled child, and they give them up for adoption because they don’t believe they can care for them properly, why do people call them monsters and selfish? Isn’t it better for the child to be raised by somebody who is able to care for them and love them properly? Because when they do keep them, and cannot care for them, people still call them selfish, and a monster. And no, I have never had that experience.

Thank you.

The interpreter translating for the person with the speach impediment has gained a brilliant skill .The skill usually takes year's and mostly by a family member who have spent year's around that person. It Imust take a lot if training for the carer to be able to do that job. For the client it has so many benefits that we take for granted. For the first time in their lives they have a voice outside of their family homes and not only that they are listened to and take seriously by outsider's for the first time. The straight jacket is of. They feel free. 🐣Progress.

I worked there for three days in the mid 80’s I could not believe the way those people were being treated. I could not be part of it so I never went back. I am so glad it shut down and disbanded.

Me suffering with bi polar and epilepsy would have been in this place😒

My sister lived & died there. R.I.P. Kathleen "Kathy" Kellum

It is so extremely sad, my heart breaks.

This is incredibly hard to watch, I can not imagine how much these poor people suffered while there. 😢

There are 3 types of people in the world, those who get enjoyment out of hurting others, those for whom the pain of others is heartbreaking and then you have those who couldn't care less and will stand by and keep quiet.