B. People with Disabilities
Society's Attitude toward People with Disabilities:
Historical Perspective
During
the past 40 to 50 years there have been numerous changes in our society
with respect to the management and treatment of people with disabilities.
In addition, there have been many advancements in medical care. As a result,
most of these individuals reside in the community rather than institutions
and depend upon community-based private practitioners for oral health care.
How did these changes occur?
Prior to the twentieth century, social 
attitudes reflected
the view that persons with disabilities were unhealthy, defective and deviant.
For centuries, society as a whole treated these people as objects of fear
and pity. The prevailing attitude was that such individuals were incapable
of participating in or contributing to society and that they must rely
on welfare or charitable organizations.
Generally speaking, prior to the late 1800's, people with
mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, and/or epilepsy resided at
home and were cared for by their families. Life expectancy for severely
and profoundly disabled individuals was not as long as it is today.
Beginning in the late 1800's, institutions were built
by state and local
administrative agencies to house people with developmental disabilities.
These institutions were usually built on the outskirts of town. Societal
attitudes fostered this segregating style of management. Unfortunately,
segregating from society further stigmatizes people.
Florida
Farm Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptic was built in Gainesville,
Florida in 1920. Management of residents was based on a "custodial" model.
They were not integrated into community programs. Obviously, segregation
from society is stigmatizing.
