Moron A Daughter's Story Of An Accidental Childhood In Willowbrook
“Moron A Daughter's Story Of An Accidental Childhood In Willowbrook” is a memoir by Maria Hinojosa. The book details the author's childhood in the Willowbrook State School, a notorious institution for people with developmental disabilities, in Staten Island, New York, during the 1960s and '70s.
The Author
Maria Hinojosa is an award-winning Mexican-American journalist and author. She is the host and executive producer of Latino USA, a radio show and podcast dedicated to telling the stories of Latinos in the United States. Hinojosa is also the founder of Futuro Media, a nonprofit organization that produces multimedia content about diversity and social justice.
The Story
The Willowbrook State School was opened in 1947 to provide care for people with developmental disabilities. However, the institution became overcrowded and underfunded, with staff-to-patient ratios as low as one to fifty. The conditions at the school were deplorable, with patients suffering from neglect, abuse, and medical experimentation.
In "Moron A Daughter's Story Of An Accidental Childhood In Willowbrook," Hinojosa recounts her experiences as the daughter of two doctors who worked at the institution. She describes how her family lived in a house on the grounds of the school and how she grew up playing with the residents of the institution.
The book is a poignant exploration of the human cost of institutionalization and the resilience of the human spirit. Hinojosa's writing is honest and unflinching, as she recounts the cruelty that was inflicted upon the residents of Willowbrook and the toll it took on her family.
The Legacy of Willowbrook
The conditions at the Willowbrook State School were exposed to the public in 1972, when Geraldo Rivera aired an investigative report on the school on ABC News. The report showed the appalling conditions at the institution, with patients living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions and suffering from neglect and abuse.
The scandal led to the closure of the institution and the passage of legislation to improve the care of people with developmental disabilities. The legacy of Willowbrook is still felt today, as advocates continue to fight for the rights of people with disabilities and to ensure that institutions like Willowbrook are never allowed to exist again.
Conclusion
"Moron A Daughter's Story Of An Accidental Childhood In Willowbrook" is a powerful memoir that sheds light on a dark chapter in American history. Hinojosa's writing is both poignant and insightful, as she explores the impact of institutionalization on both the residents of Willowbrook and her own family. The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a call to action to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are always respected and protected.