The Brave Activism of Elizabeth Hall Lee and Lillian Hall and Willowbrook State School

a visual story

“Jennifer is an amazing storyteller!! The content was well presented and kept us engaged throughout.”

Jennifer has a history of women activists in her family - activism for people with disabilities.

Her mother was one of the whistleblowers who brought down Willowbrook State School in the early 1970s. What followed was deinstitutionalization in the United States.

This visual presentation by Jennifer is a personal story of what she witnessed during this tumultuous time in our history. Described as "resonant" and "powerful," this presentation and story will give the audience a fuller picture of the fight for rights for developmentally disabled people and how the power of two women in Jennifer’s family who helped bring these changes forward.

She does this in order to assist in the effort to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Act - IDEA. Inclusive practices for students means that special education students are no longer separated in education; all children are included in an inclusive environment. The PUSD is working towards this goal with success.

About the Willowbrook Story:

• Whistleblowing: Jennifer shares the story of her mother and grandmother and the closing of Willowbrook State School on Staten Island, New York. Elizabeth Lee was a social worker in the early 1970s at Willowbrook and was fired for her whistleblowing and parent organizing that revealed the abuses at Willowbrook. A young Geraldo Rivera covered the story after Elizabeth and others went to the Staten Island Advance with the information. The Staten Island Advance broke the story. What happened after is the deinstitutionalization for people in the United States.

• IDEA: The Individuals with Disabilities Act - IDEA followed in 1975.

• Group Homes/Independent Living: Elizabeth Lee's mother, Lillian Hall, joined the activism by advocating for group residences for people with Down syndrome on Staten Island. Their work was instrumental to deinstitutionalization in the United States and the inclusion of people with disabilities in public school education.

Press: https://www.coloradoboulevard.net/exposing-willowbrook-a-trustees-family-story/

TESTIMONIALS

Testimonials from the California Department of Education All Titles Conference

I hope that, as an elected School Trustee in Pasadena, Jennifer Hall Lee is able to share her Willowbrook story to spark brave individuals to speak up and demand that we include students with disabilities in general education classes throughout California. - Dr. Sharon A. Cavallaro East Side High School District, San Jose

People don't see that what we do today with children with disabilities is segregation.The presentation on the Closing of Willowbrook State Schools is intense and gives a very concrete and visual illustration of the segregation of children with disabilities that has occurred in our country. This story helps people see the human side of what we've done to people with disabilities and that what we do today when we place children with disabilities in separate schools and separate classes is segregation! It's a human story, a horrific human story. - Kirsten King, Director, Assessment and Accountability at East SIde Union High School District, Mother of a special needs child

Testimonials from SELPA Administrators of California Association Monthly Meeting, San Diego

Jennifer Hall Lee traveled to the monthly SELPA Administrators of California Association meeting in February of 2024. Over 100 of the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) leaders were in attendance. We are a group of special education experts, servicing all districts and LEAs in the state of California.  Her presentation on the history of Willowbrook was inspiring to our members. We issue surveys for each presentation of our meetings and Ms. Hall Lee's ratings were all the highest possible. Remarks also included that this presentation needs to be done at other leadership conferences and meetings such as CSBA and ACSA, specifically targeted general educators and school board members.  This presentation provides not only a history of the disability community and their rights, but civil rights in general. As California schools and agencies continue down a path to truly integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion into their systems, oftentimes, students with disabilities are lost in that conversation and they remain the most segregated subgroup in all of education. Ms. Hall Lee's presentation reminds us of what the I stands for in EDI.  Her presentation was aligned with our Associations mission, vision, but most of all our moral imperative. Additionally, her story telling style was not only engaging, it was powerful. Storytelling is the present and future work in this movement, in my opinion, and Ms. Hall Lee is masterful at telling the story with a message we all should hear, especially with her combined background as a filmmaker and school board trustee.  Her presentation will not only move you, from an empathy perspective, it will move you and the schools you lead to take action! I would have her as a session or a keynote, again and again! - Veronica Coates, Assistant Superintendent, Tehama County SELPA, Executive Committee Member, SELPA Administrators of California Association, Executive Director of Pathways to Partnership, Special Education Resource Lead (SERL) for ADR, Board Member, California Mental Health Advocates for Children and Youth (CMHACY) 

Jennifer is an amazing storyteller!! The content was well presented and kept us engaged throughout. Thank you!!

Excellent presentation. Powerful message of being able to not repeat the past and that we still have a long road towards advocating and supporting students and families.

I appreciated Jennifer Hall Lee's candid story about the dehumanizing treatment of individuals with disabilities at Willowbrook State School and her mother's courageous work to both expose and end it. 

California, so often at the forefront of progressive policies for its most marginalized constituencies, has significant work to do to vanquish its continuing segregation of students with disabilities. Ranked lowest in the nation for educating students with disabilities with their general education peers, we continue to perpetuate the myth that people with disabilities are unable to learn, grow, develop, and meaningfully contribute to their communities.

Jennifer was an excellent presenter. She provided a historical perspective on the treatment of individuals with disabilities in the United States and on the importance of inclusive practices.

Jennifer Hall Lee's family story of activism, particularly her mother and grandmother's efforts to shut down Willowbrook State School and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, is a powerful testament to the impact of grassroots activism on societal change. Before the ADA and IDEA existed, their actions underscored the importance of including people with disabilities as integral members of the community.

The story of Willowbrook is why I became a Special Education Professional. This presentation is a must see for anyone in education today while we work to improve outcomes and education for all children and the acceptance and understanding of all people with disabilities! Jennifer: Thank you for sharing your family's story. The field is grateful and really shaped because of your family's advocacy.

Testimonials from the Community

It was such a pleasure listening to Jennifer Hall Lee's poignant and personal retelling of her family's struggles to reform the living conditions of children with developmental disabilities on Staten Island in the 1970s. A talented storyteller and passionate advocate, Jennifer's tales of both her grandmother's and mother's work at the infamous Willowbrook institution and greater Staten Island community illustrated the roots of her own interests in standing up for the children of the PUSD as a school board trustee. - Pablo Miralles, Filmmaker, Can We All Get Along? The Segregation of John Muir High

Testimonial from the PUSD Welcome Back Event for Special Education Department by Jovan Jacobs, Ed.D. Associate Superintendent Specialized Student Support/SELPA Pasadena Unified School District

I recently had the opportunity to host the  presentation by Jennifer Hall Lee to over 200 hundred special education staff at  Pasadena Unified School District. The presentation on Willowbrook State School  was a truly enlightening and moving experience, shedding light on an important yet often overlooked aspect of history. 

Jennifer Hall Lee's delivery was engaging and heartfelt, clearly demonstrating her passion for the subject matter. She managed to captivate the audience's attention from the very beginning, weaving together a narrative that was both informative and emotionally resonant. Her storytelling ability made the Willowbrook story come alive, transporting us to a different time and allowing us to truly empathize with the individuals who lived through those events.

What stood out most about the presentation was Jennifer's meticulous research. She presented a well-rounded view of the Willowbrook story, delving into both the historical context and the personal experiences of those affected. Her use of primary sources, including interviews, documents, and photographs, lent an authenticity to her account that left a lasting impression.

Furthermore, Jennifer's presentation skillfully connected the Willowbrook story to broader themes of social justice, racial inequality, and the power of community activism. She prompted thought-provoking discussions among the attendees, encouraging us to reflect on the lessons we can learn from history and how they apply to our present-day challenges.

In conclusion, Jennifer Hall Lee's presentation on the Willowbrook story was a thought-provoking and emotionally impactful experience. Her ability to weave history, personal stories, and social relevance together showcased her dedication to education, empathy, and social justice. I left the presentation feeling both educated and inspired, with a renewed appreciation for the importance of understanding our past as we work towards a more just and equitable future.” - Jovan Jacobs, Ed.D. Associate Superintendent Specialized Student Support/SELPA Pasadena Unified School District