disability-history-timeline-2013

Stereotypes, cultural representations and attitudes1896Mary Dendy (1855 -1933), a member ofthe Manchester School Board, convincesthe Board to set up special schools for‘mentally handicapped’ children.She becomes convinced that ‘mentallyhandicapped youths’ continue to ‘pose athreat’ to the community after they leaveschool and advocated lifelong institutionalcare for them.1907The Eugenics EducationSociety is formed, whichwould later be renamedthe British Eugenics Societyand, later still, the GaltonInstitute. They believe thatoffering medical and socialservices to disabled people will lead to thedegeneration of the human race.The movement gains support across thepolitical spectrum in the early part of the20th century, including William Beveridge,the architect of the welfare state. As HomeSecretary (1910 -1911) Sir Winston Churchillfavours the confinement, segregation andsterilisation of ‘feeble minded’ people.1913The Mental Deficiency Act categorisespeople with learning disabilities andmental health issues as ‘idiots’, ‘imbeciles’,‘feeble-minded’ or ‘moral defectives’.Gradually, unmarried mothers begin to beplaced in this ‘moral defective’ categorytoo. Many people acquire their diagnosisof mental deficiency because of extremechildhood adversity or institutional care.The Act leads to many more people withlearning difficulties being incarcerated.1935Dr. Alexis Carrel, a Nobel prize winner on thestaff of the Rockefeller Institute, publishesMan the Unknown. He proposes disposingof criminals and people who are mentallyill via euthanasia institutions equipped withsuitable gases.1939Hitler orders widespread ‘mercy killing’of sick and disabled people. The Nazieuthanasia program, to eliminate ‘lifeunworthy of life,’ is code-named Aktion T4.An estimated 275,000 people are killedunder the programme from 1939 to 1945.8