Intellectual disability policy and practice in twentieth-century United Kingdom

Abstract

In the first half of the twentieth century UK policy, dominated by the passing of the Mental Deficiency Act in 1913, was not driven solely by eugenic discourse but by a commonly held assumption across the ideological spectrum that the ‘mentally deficient’ population needed ‘fixing’ in some way. Lurking beneath this desire for completeness and the tidying up of the social sphere were deep anxieties about urban modernity and human capacity to meet its challenges. In the second half of the century we see the voice of the person with intellectual disability finally emerge as self-advocacy, as the institutions met their end and care in the community became policy. A so-called ‘golden period’ in the 1990s, characterized by thoughtful policy and a commitment to inclusion, raised hopes of genuine citizenship and improved support. The chapter ends however with a cautionary warning from the 21st century, where gains seem to be receding and the institution rising from its grave.