Watch Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years After Willowbrook

Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years After Willowbrook is a documentary film that was released in 1997. The film shows how the story of Willowbrook State School shocked America when the story was released. In 1972 journalist Geraldo Rivera and a camera crew entered the public school with a stolen skeleton key. In his expose, he showed the world how the mentally challenged were treated as animals, rather than people. Many were ignored and weren't getting the treatment or medical care as needed and were suffering from parasites, pneumonia and hepatitis. In 1975 a federal court had ordered the school to be shut down and the students sent to community group homes. The former students were interviewed 25 years later and they are much better. The students got the medical care and attention that was needed and living much better lives.