8 Comments Posted by advocate

The important point is that terrable abuses did occure and must never be aloud to happen again!

I do not understand why people continue to deny abuses that occurred at Pennhurst.. They were proved to be true in court.. Read the documents they are available to the public.

Ask selfadvocates how they feel about institutions. You will discover as I did that they wand nothing to do with them. Read the abuses that cccurred at Pennhurst and you will understand why!

It costs three times as much to keep people in institutions than in four person group homes. There is no dout good and terrable things occured at institutions. The point is people can be better served in group homes .
where abuse is less likely to occur for less money and human dignity is preserved

Stairwell to hell!

you people are nuts.. any good medical facility would have good lighting. the chair was obvoulsly placed in the picture for effect. and it's a wooden chair ... not really condusive to "electrical shock". you're reading way too much into this. you're looking at the present run-down facility. Come on, they had a theatre, a gym, all kinds of recreational facilities. Get a sense of history, people.

People shoul spend less time thying to defend Pennhurst and more time making sure it never happens again.

I have been in it, around it, on top of it, and find it the most beautiful of buildings.The use of it was not what was intended. Dr. Kirkbride tried to help the mentally ill with fresh air, farming, and relaxation. We got in the way with greed and stigma. That was their home. They are in the cardboard boxes now, parks, gutters, etc. And their illness is no different than someone with cancer or heart disease. It's biologically-based and affects the brain. We need to help them, not fear them.