Explore the history of the inclusion movement in NB over the last 60 years.
In the 1950s and 1960s many people with an intellectual disability were institutionalized, sterilized and prohibited from attending school. Parents of these individuals, who are now seniors, took action to ensure that their children, other youth and adults with an intellectual disability had an opportunity for a better life. Today children routinely attend regular schools and classrooms, are raised by their families with the support of various organizations and systems and adults with an intellectual disability are increasingly entering our work force.
The History in Action project arose from the desire of current seniors who played the important roles in the development of the community living movement for people with an intellectual disability in New Brunswick. These seniors, now in their late 60s, 70s and 80s were the vanguards of social change related to the inclusion of people with an intellectual disability in all aspects of our society. A number of these seniors came forward and asked NBACL to capture the history of this human rights movement in order to share important knowledge with a younger generation of families to ensure the story is not forgotten as well as the general community at large. These seniors deeply believe that the lessons on the harmful effects of exclusion and segregation need to be told, shared and documented to safeguard the present and future of inclusion for persons with disabilities.
This presentation covers four primary topics relating to the history of the community living movement in New Brunswick:
– Discusses the power of parents and the Community Living Movement
– Remembers the history exclusion and segregation so we don’t repeat mistakes
– Celebrates the 60 year history of NBACL and the impact it’s had on New Brunswick
– Presents a 150 year timeline of people with an intellectual disability in New Brunswick
