Mental Retardation in America: A Historical Reader (The History of Disability, 7)

The expressions "idiot, you idiot, you're an idiot, don't be an idiot," and the like are generally interpreted as momentary insults. But, they are also expressions that represent an old, if unstable, history. Beginning with an examination of the early nineteenth century labeling of mental retardation as "idiocy," to what we call developmental, intellectual, or learning disabilities, Mental Retardation in America chronicles the history of mental retardation, its treatment and labeling, and its representations and ramifications within the changing economic, social, and political context of America. Mental Retardation in America includes essays with a wide range of authors who approach the problems of retardation from many differing points of view. This work is divided into five sections, each following in chronological order the major changes in the treatment of people classified as retarded. Exploring historical issues, as well as current public policy concerns, Mental Retardation in America covers topics ranging from representations of the mentally disabled as social burdens and social menaces; Freudian inspired ideas of adjustment and adaptation; the relationship between community care and institutional treatment; historical events, such as the Buck v. Bell decision, which upheld the opinion on eugenic sterilization; the evolution of the disability rights movement; and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The Expressions Idiot, You Idiot, You're An Idiot, Don't Be An Idiot, And The Like Are Generally Interpreted As Momentary Insults. But, They Are Also Expressions That Represent An Old, If Unstable, History. Beginning With An Examination Of The Early Nineteenth Century Labeling Of Mental Retardation As Idiocy, To What We Call Developmental, Intellectual, Or Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation In America Chronicles The History Of Mental Retardation, Its Treatment And Labeling, And Its Representations And Ramifications Within The Changing Economic, Social, And Political Context Of America. Before The Asylum -- Report Made To The Legislature Of Massachusetts (1848) / Samuel G. Howe -- A Thesis On Idiocy (1879) / William B. Fish -- The Legacy Of The Almshouse / Philip Ferguson -- 'beside Her Sat Her Idiot Child': Families And Developmental Disability In Mid-nineteenth-century America / Penny Richards -- Defining And Categorizing: Establishing The Other -- Report Of Committee Of Classification Of Feeble-minded -- Mongols In Our Midst: John Langdon Down And The Ethnic Classification Of Idiocy, 1858-1924 / David Wright -- 'mongolian Imbecility': Race And Its Rejection In The Understanding Of A Mental Disease / Daniel Kevles -- Rearing The Child Who Never Grew: Ideologies Of Parenting And Intellectual Disability In American History / Janice Brockley -- The Parable Of The Kallikak Family: Explaining The Meaning Of Heredity In 1912 / Leila Zenderland -- Fictional Voices And Viewpoints For The Mentally Deficient, 1929-1939 / Gerald Schmidt -- Sexuality And Story-telling: Literary Representations Of The 'feeble-minded' In The Age Of Sterilization / Karen Keely -- The Age Of Institutionalization And Sterilization -- The Eugenical Sterilization Of The Feeble-minded / Harry Laughlin -- The Criminalization Of Mental Retardation / Nicole Rafter -- The State And The Multiply-disadvantaged: The Case Of Epilepsy / Ellen Dwyer. The 'sociological Advantages' Of Sterilization: Fiscal Policies And Feebleminded Women In Interwar Minnesota / Molly Ladd-taylor -- From Top And Bottom: Parents And The State In The Mid-20th Century -- Hope For Retarded Children / Eunice Kennedy Shriver -- 'mental Deficients' Fighting Fascism: The Unplanned Normalization Of World War Ii / Stephen A. Gelb -- Education For Children With Mental Retardation: Parent Activism, Public Policy, And Family Ideology In The 1950s / Kathleen W. Jones -- 'nice, Average Americans': Postwar Parents' Groups And The Defense Of The Normal Family / Katherine Castles -- Formal Health Care At The Community Level: The Child Development Clinics Of The 1950s And 1960s / Wendy M. Nehring -- A Pivotal Place In Special Education Policy: The First Arkansas Children's Colony / Elizabeth F. Shores -- The Promise And Problems Of Community Placement Back To A Beginning? -- U.s. Supreme Court Decision On Capital Punishment & Mental Retardation (2002) -- Historical Social Geography / Deborah S. Metzel -- The Litigator As Reformer / David J. Rothman And Sheila M. Rothman -- No Profits, Just A Pittance: Work, Compensation, And People Defined As Mentally Disabled In Ontario, 1964-1990 / Geoffrey Reaume -- Family Values / Michael Berube. Edited By Steven Noll And James W. Trent, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.