1960s: "I had no idea it would be that bad." - Comment by Milledgeville tour participant (The Atlanta Journal, June 8, 1960)
A woman buries her head in her hands and weeps during a tour of the State Hospital at Milledgeville, unable to believe the conditions her fellow Georgians are forced to endure. Meanwhile, Augusta's Gracewood facility houses 1,700 people with mental retardation. These Georgians are tended by state employees, many poorly trained, who work 72-hour weeks.
1960s: AADD Expands Efforts in Education and Job Training
Educational opportunities for children and adults take priority at AADD. Leaders realize that the Fairhaven School, enrollment 130, is likely one of Georgia's first accredited schools for children with mental retardation. AADD opens the Bobby Dodd Sheltered Workshop as a vocational training site, demonstrating that adults with developmental disabilities can contribute to society.
1964: Seven-month Study Reveals Horrible Conditions at Milledgeville State Hospital
Overcrowded conditions - 18,000 patients with mental illness or developmental disabilities - inadequate staff, and lack of treatment and educational therapy for people with mental retardation top the list of urgent problems. Gracewood now has 1,848 patients. With no community-based services available for their children, 1,615 families put their names on the waiting list to place their loved ones in institutions.
1965/1966: AADD Challenges the Authorities
Intense lobbying efforts by AADD leadership begin. AADD challenges authorities to improve conditions at state-run institutions. AADD gives a voice to people demanding the right to be served in their communities, and to families who want to keep their loved ones at home or close by. Perhaps for the first time ever, these concerns are voiced and heard.
1966: AADD's Advocacy Efforts Begin to Pay Off
The Georgia General Assembly passes an AADD-supported bill requiring testing for all newborns to identify those with phenylketonuria, which, if not identified and properly treated, can cause developmental disabilities.
AADD also begins a vigorous community education program promoting the need for people with mental retardation to enjoy physical activity and safe, therapeutic recreation. Responding to AADD's efforts, St. Luke's Episcopal Church opens an adult activity center.
1968: "Forgotten Children" Live in the Same Quarters as Adults
Two hundred and fifty "forgotten children" with developmental disabilities are found warehoused with adults at Central State Hospital at Milledgeville. According to newspaper reports, they receive no treatment, therapy, or education.
A Major Victory for Exceptional Children
Intense lobbying by AADD results in passage of the Mandatory Education Bill for Exceptional Children by the Georgia General Assembly. The law requires every county to provide education for all exceptional children by 1976. Although 435 teachers are requested, the state appropriates enough money for only 150 teachers.
1969: AADD Creates Project: Rescue to Help Parents Keep Their Children at Home
Instead of sending children with mental retardation miles away to live in an institution where they receive minimal attention, Project: RESCUE (now called AADD's Georgia Family Support) provides case management and in-home training for Atlanta families. This innovative program is funded by a federal grant from Model Cities.
