| CHRISTMAS IN PURGATORY |
Excerpts from:
A Photographic Essay on Mental Retardation
BURTON BLATT FRED KAPLAN
A Photographic Essay on Mental Retardation
BURTON BLATT FRED KAPLAN
"During the month of December, 1965,
we visited - at our own expense - five
state institutions for the mentally
retarded in four eastern states. ...we
were able to visit the darkest corridors
and vestibules that humanity provides
for its journey to purgatory and,
without being detected by ward
personnel and professional staff, Fred
Kaplan was able to take hundreds of
photographs.
B.B.
we visited - at our own expense - five
state institutions for the mentally
retarded in four eastern states. ...we
were able to visit the darkest corridors
and vestibules that humanity provides
for its journey to purgatory and,
without being detected by ward
personnel and professional staff, Fred
Kaplan was able to take hundreds of
photographs.
B.B.
"There is a hell on earth, and in
America there is a special inferno. We
were visitors there during Christmas,
1965."
America there is a special inferno. We
were visitors there during Christmas,
1965."
"We saw children with hands tied and
legs bound. After discussions with
attendants and supervisors in the four
institutions, we were convinced that
one of the major reasons for the heavy
use of solitary confinement and
physical restraints was the
extraordinary shortage of staff ..."
legs bound. After discussions with
attendants and supervisors in the four
institutions, we were convinced that
one of the major reasons for the heavy
use of solitary confinement and
physical restraints was the
extraordinary shortage of staff ..."
"In some of the children's dormitories
we observed "nursery programs."
What surprised us most was their
scarcity and primitiveness of those in
operation. Therefore, we were not
unprepared to see several children
with severe head lacerations. We
were told these were head bangars."
we observed "nursery programs."
What surprised us most was their
scarcity and primitiveness of those in
operation. Therefore, we were not
unprepared to see several children
with severe head lacerations. We
were told these were head bangars."
"The living quarters for older men and
women, were, for the most part,
gloomy and sterile. There were the
rows and rows of benches on which sat
countless human beings, in silent
rooms, waiting for dinner call or
bedtime. We saw resident after
resident in "institutional garb.
Sometimes, the women wore shrouds
inside out."
women, were, for the most part,
gloomy and sterile. There were the
rows and rows of benches on which sat
countless human beings, in silent
rooms, waiting for dinner call or
bedtime. We saw resident after
resident in "institutional garb.
Sometimes, the women wore shrouds
inside out."
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