The lives of people with disabilities have been changed over the past thirty years for several reasons including deinstitutionalisation, which I will be discussing. There are several factors that have influenced these changes including human rights and the management of services and resources.
As we have learnt, prior to the 1970's, people with a disability were basically forced to live in institutions, where they were managed and treated for the whole of their lives. There was no such thing as socializing with the outer community, working, visiting people, and all the other things those living outside institutions could do, for they were considered as not being able to face the 'real' world. As shown in the movie called Rain Man, institutions were seen to be there to 'protect' those with a disability.
My interviewee, whom I will name Anna, works as a nurse at Kew Residential Services. She explains the story of a girl who was taken to the institute soon after she was born.
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