Developmental Disability History

On mn.gov, there is a power-point called Parallels in Time “A History of Developmental Disabilities”. The power-point consist of 7 sections which are titled: Ancient Era (1500 B.C.- 475 A.D), The Middle Ages, Renaissance & Reformation (476 A.D – 1500 A.D), 17th and 18th Centuries, The Rise of the Institution (1800-1950), The Reawakening (1950 – 1980), The Independent Living Movement (1970 – Present), and The Self- Advocacy Movement (1980 – Present). Within each sections there are either subsections, which break down the years into smaller years or there are summaries. Each of these sections or subsection relate to people with disability experience throughout time in a cronical time period. The first section began in the year 1500 B.C, when society began to perceive people with disabilities in a negative way because they could not explain natural phenomenons. Many people in the Ancient Era were struggling to explain the world and its natural phenomenon. They were unable to explain what caused an earthquake, storm, tornado and many other events. However, during the time, philosophers such as Socrates, tried their best to answer many unknown questions. Socrates who was born in 470 B.C was …show more content…
At the beginning, in 798, the first asylum was founded when the Catholic Church provided refugee for those in need. However, during the time many small towns would provide refugee in what was called an “Idiot Cage”. These cage were nothing positive in fact it was something that was negative because it was a form of entertainment for the towns people at the expense of people with disabilities. After the town people got sick of “Idiot Cage” they started to pay sailors to send people with disabilities to another country, which was known as the “Ships of fools.” As a result of the abandonment, many people with disabilities were left homeless and to vend for