Willowbrook
Community Integration, Disability Justice, Willowbrook
The landmark Willowbrook class action vindicated the civil rights of individuals with disabilities to live in the community, after a series of investigations in the 1970s unearthed deplorable conditions at the Willowbrook State School. Filed in 1972 (as New York State Assoc. for Retarded Children v. Rockefeller), the case resulted in a consent decree and later a permanent injunction. It predates major federal disability rights laws, and the concepts and rights won in this case shaped much of the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1970’s and beyond. NYLPI and co-counsel New York Civil Liberties Union represent the class and enforce the court order related to health, safety, and placements in the community.
Co-counsel: New York Civil Liberties Union
RESOURCES
A Conversation on Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion: 2021 Law & Society Awards Event
Resolution Agreement Confirms Right to Translation and Interpretation for Parents of Students with Disabilities in NYC Schools
Appellate Brief in Litigation for Full Body-Worn Camera Footage in Police Shooting of Susan Muller
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