European colonization

• premium on physical stamina
• laws in 13 colonies excluded settlers who could not demonstrate ability to support themselves independently
• immigration policy forbade people with mental or physical disabilities to enter country
• hide and disown family members with disabilities
• farmed out to others-usually lowest bidder

1820's

• shift to more institutional care
• custodial facilities, unsanitary, overcrowded

1870-90

• "benevolent shelter" - large institutional housing away from population centers to protect people with disabilities from society

Early 1900's

• replaced with belief that society had to be protected from people with disabilities
• Social Darwinism- based on notion that mental and physical disabilities were the underlying source of all social problems and were occurring with increasing frequency due to reproduction of unfit persons. By late 1950's, 28 states had compulsory sterilization statutes

1920's

• Social Darwinism discredited but institutions had developed a life of their own

1970's

• Independent living movement-freedom to take risk and make mistakes