Early efforts to improve conditions for people with disabilities led to the creation of large residential hospitals and institutions for them. What model(s) of disability were reflected in the rise of mass institutionalization, and what led to the decline in these large institutions?

 

Models of Disability

            The quest to improve the conditions for the people living with disabilities contributed immensely to the creation of not only large residential hospitals where they could access quality health care but also other institutions. Ideally, this was significantly contributed by the fact that accessing various amenities especially in the public sector proved problematic and thus the need for urgent measures to curb this rising problem. In this case, various models of disability were reflected in the subsequent rise of mass institutionalization. Lawson, Anna & Beckett (2021) note that models of disability played a critical role in ensuring the interests and plight of the people living with disabilities were sufficiently considered. For instance, the social model remains one of the critical models that significantly contributed to this position. The model is premised on the situation that disability is seen as a product of the environment. As such, creating a conducive environment for the people living with disabilities was critical in ensuring they access various needs and aspirations. Additionally, the medical model also contributed immensely to the rise in mass institutionalization. Whereas this model was applied many years ago, the basis of its application that stated that people needed to be cured remained relevant in reflecting the subsequent rise in mass institutionalization.

            Essentially, several factors contributed immensely to the decline in mass institutionalization, especially for the mental institutions. For instance, increased criticisms of mental institutions across various sectors contributed to this sharp decline. Also, the enactment of several policy changes especially emanating from the federal government equally contributed to the deinstitutionalization (Lamb, Richard & Weinberger, 2020). Further, the incorporation of mind-altering drugs in the form of treatment played a critical role in advancing such deinstitutionalization. It is also critical to note that the emergence of alternative ways of offering special treatment contributed further to the deinstitutionalization of the facilities.