Mental Retardation in America: A Historical Reader / Edition 1

by Steven Noll, James Trent

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814782484
Publisher:	New York University Press
Publication date:	02/01/2004
Series:	The History of Disability , #7
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	513
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Steven Noll is Visiting Associate Professor of History at the University of Florida. He is also an adaptive technology teacher for students with special needs in the Gainesville, Florida public schools. He is the author of Feeble-Minded in our Midst: Institutions for the Mentally Retarded in the South.

James W. Trent is Professor and Director of the Master of Social Work Program at Southern Illinois University, and the author of the award-winning Inventing the Feeble Mind: A History of Mental Retardation in the United States.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This is a highly readable and well-edited historical anthology, a wide-ranging collection that deals with mental retardation over two centuries. The book deserves perusal by anyone interested in mental retardation. The plot is powerful, and the questions profound."

-New England Journal of Medicine,

"Strongly recommended"

-Library Journal,

"Interesting collection of pieces."

-Gainesville Sun,

"Illuminates the history of mental retardation in America, a subject that has largely been ignored by scholars. This volume goes far beyond the history of institutional care, and covers such subjects as the role of families, changes in concepts of retardation and educational theory, and the role of the state. Mental Retardation in America will contribute toward a new understanding of the subject and serve as a stimulus to further research."

-Gerald N. Grob,Rutgers University

"The book will be of value to scholars concerned with the newly emerging history of disability."

-Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences

Editorial Reviews

"Interesting collection of pieces."

Gainesville Sun

"Illuminates the history of mental retardation in America, a subject that has largely been ignored by scholars. This volume goes far beyond the history of institutional care, and covers such subjects as the role of families, changes in concepts of retardation and educational theory, and the role of the state. Mental Retardation in America will contribute toward a new understanding of the subject and serve as a stimulus to further research."

Gerald N. Grob

"The book will be of value to scholars concerned with the newly emerging history of disability."

Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences

"This is a highly readable and well-edited historical anthology, a wide-ranging collection that deals with mental retardation over two centuries. The book deserves perusal by anyone interested in mental retardation. The plot is powerful, and the questions profound."

New England Journal of Medicine

Although an estimated two to three percent of Americans have some form of mental retardation, comparatively few historical studies on the subject have been published. Enter this anthology by Trent (social work, Southern Illinois Univ.; Invention of the Feeble Mind) and Noll (history, Univ. of Florida; Feeble-Minded in Our Midst: Institutions for the Mentally Retarded in the South). The 20 selected essays-some previously published, most new-chronicle how individuals with cognitive disabilities have been treated socially, medically, economically, legally, and educationally in U.S. society since the early 19th century. Ranging from William B. Fish's "A Thesis on Idiocy" (1879) to the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (formerly the Education of All Handicapped Children Act) in 1975 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, the essays explore the evolution of key issues and public policy relative to mental disability as changes were created by industrialization, urbanization, and war. Many candidly disclose the devaluation and fear that society held for the "feeble-minded" during the era of eugenics. Fortunately, the book moves beyond the dark ages of disability in America, when forced sterilizations and subhuman living conditions in asylums and almshouses were the norm. After World War II, the grass-roots parents' movement resulted in long-awaited reforms in educational and community inclusion. Necessary to understand how past events have shaped legislation and advocacy for the rights of Americans with developmental disabilities, this account brings the world up to date and is strongly recommended for academic libraries, health science libraries, and public libraries wishing to have solid coverage on this subject.-Deborah Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Dunwoody Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

"The book will be of value to scholars concerned with the newly emerging history of disability."

- Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences

"Strongly recommended"

- Library Journal

"Interesting collection of pieces."

- Gainesville Sun

"This is a highly readable and well-edited historical anthology, a wide-ranging collection that deals with mental retardation over two centuries. The book deserves perusal by anyone interested in mental retardation. The plot is powerful, and the questions profound."

- New England Journal of Medicine

"Illuminates the history of mental retardation in America, a subject that has largely been ignored by scholars. This volume goes far beyond the history of institutional care, and covers such subjects as the role of families, changes in concepts of retardation and educational theory, and the role of the state. Mental Retardation in America will contribute toward a new understanding of the subject and serve as a stimulus to further research."

-Gerald N. Grob,Rutgers University

From the Publisher