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Posted by: Anonymous on 3/21/1998@13:12hrs:
In Reply to: willowbrook state school and the new college campus posted by: Raina on 3/20/1998@17:05hrs:
Rivera was right on the money to expose Willowbrook State School for what it was...a dreaded horror for the mentally retarded as well as some who had NO mental incapacities what-so-ever at birth, but were abandoned by wealthy parents who just "didn't want them"
There was also in-breeding permitted there between the patients. One of the offspring was quite deformed and was commonly referred to as "the bird girl" by the staff - her face greatly resembled a beak and she had to be held in someone's arms in order to be fed (as she was a total of approximately 1 1/2 feet long)
In another situation, a young boy was made to live in a closet in total darkness and without any outside stimulation. He was fed, however, to keep him alive. Why I don't know! From what I understood from a very reliable former-staff member (late 60's early 70's), the boy was born healthy and with no disabilities, to a very wealthy and well-known couple in Long Island, who did not want him. The boy wound up environmentally retarded, mute, and extremely undernourished. This came out in the open around a year or two before Rivera did his expose. As far as I recall, there was no mention of him in the story.
A rumor floated around the Island for a short time after, that he was born to members of the Vanderbilt family, but there was never anything to substantiate it. Maybe you could research some of this. Hope it helps.