The Horrifying Truth About Willowbrook State School
In 1942, New York opened the Willowbrook State School on Staten Island, promising care and support for people with developmental disabilities. But behind its doors, a shocking nightmare unfolded, one that would expose horrifying conditions, abuse, neglect, and a system that failed the very people it was meant to protect.
On this episode of Weird History we take a look at what really happened inside Willowbrook, the investigative reporting that exposed its shocking reality, and the events that helped change the way people with disabilities were treated. How did conditions become so horrific in the first place? And what finally forced the institution to close?
Do you think things have improved for people with developmental disabilities since the closure of Willowbrook? Let us know in the comments.
(Much like real history, this video was produced entirely by human beings.)
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#willowbrook #mentalhealth #weirdhistory

@darkshadow1966
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Good think the now Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) knows what he is doing and wound never let anything like this happen again… NOT
He most lily think that feed faeces to others is good for them
@jaydedjen110
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
I worked with disabled adults on Long Island, NY for 8 years. Our training included an in-service about Willowbrook and what happened there.
@pfkmsandiego
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
classic case. thanks. feel like uve already covered this years ago.
@JillMorgan-b7y
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
I always think of Geraldo and the Al Capone vault. Anyone remember that?
@Jill-Co
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Paul Offit is a crook and a fraud. He is evil.
@TsitsalagiBird
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
America is a giant science experiment.
@theconqueringram5295
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
I was born with severe dyslexia and I have experienced othering by my own family. The good thing is I was given resources like tutoring to help me cope. This is pure barbarism, plain and simple.
@lilakgirl
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
When I heard medical researchers I immediately got anxious
@TristanDotson-z3d
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
I have a disability and I never been so thankful for the fact that I was born in the 90s then I am right now
@tremorsfan
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Do a video on the Walter E Fernald State School experiments in which they dosed mentally handicapped children with radioactive oatmeal and milk.
@tremorsfan
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Let's experiment on mentally handicapped children, they won't tell anyone.
@jasoncowgill752
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Such a sad story or government neglect. And this isn’t 100 years ago either.
@BabiesKillYou
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Was a DSA (direct service aide) in NY state and we were well taught about the horrors of Willowbrook. I actually was able to visit a portion of the facility when our org. sent 3 staff with a particularly troubled client for some sort of assessment by their board. Was a very odd experience especially knowing all that happened in the buildings on that campus. Any client that we had that was "Willowbrook class" got special care and consideration with good reason.
@tammyab1
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
This is a real Halloween story. It is terrifying 😢
@peachyb.4521
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
My nana was a nurse there. When nurses left, they were offered free electroshock therapy for “depression”. They were silencing the witnesses.
@mikeseier4449
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
I guess the parents that were so aghast at how their kids were treated didn’t visit them…. Pawn your own child off on the state and then complain about what happens?!
@Stereozentrum
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Reminds me of Matilda (1996) with Danny DeVito… 😀
@avalillycooper7842
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
This reminds me of Briarcliff Manor from ahs 😮
@Seventeen_Syllables
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Whom to blame? Only a couple of names were mentioned, but no mention of disciplinary action against any specific persons. Was this left out or were there no consequences for anyone? Or, as the video states, was fault placed on society at large? This is a common refuge when a violation of public trust is so horrific that it cannot be focused on a specific person or group of persons. New Yorkers did not do any of those horrible things, people did or allowed them to be done.
@j1st633
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
My girlfriend at the time now my wife, 1977 winter. Was a nursing student at Wagner college. She a d her roommate was asked to go to Willowbrook to assist due to a shortage of nurses. She called me to pick j them up. Why? Horror movie. No supplies, no infection control protocol, no hygiene, no medication policies.
@kellychuang8373
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Good work on the video of this scary and horrific institution and Geraldo looked way younger then.
@urwinbroll
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
yeah but one question: did this really need a Geraldo exposé? I mean did none of these patients family ever come to visit….?
@The_HoochGoblin
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
There's a really good documentary centering around this institution called Cropsey I highly recommend it
@urwinbroll
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Dr. Channard : "The Doctor is in."
@auntvesuvi3872
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Thanks for your video! 🏫 Unchecked, humans can do awful things to other humans (and animals… and the environment… and governmental systems). Safety regulations and inspections have vital purposes. Don't believe the people who want to get rid of oversight.
@EmotionalSupportUnc9028
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
3:28 WTF?! It's not chickenpox
@snittykitty1
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
I have worked with the Willowbrook class (speech therapist) as most cannot eat whole foods because of the lack of of time the staff had to feed them. Most all have dysphagia and are on a pureed food consistency. They are all passing away now, one in particular was hard on me. He had cerebral palsy, very intelligent and should never had been in Willowbrook. I had an ice coffee with me once and he pointed to it and then to the visual communication board I created to the illustration for drinking. I got him a premade thick-it coffee and we had a nice time together. We continued that routine until he passed away in his sleep from a heart attack. I miss my pal, Sal.
@dillonbuford
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
I have more questions about the body parts
@billy56081
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
The people involved should be serving life sentences!
@MrRezRising
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
Is this Tom B narrating?
@mirthenary
October 19, 2026 at 7:35 am
I don't care what it takes, bring back the original narrator, please.