Forgotten

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
– George Santayana

In the late 1850’s the United States opened facilities to provide residence and care for individuals with disabilities. However, State-run institutions quickly turned into overcrowded, underfunded, and dignity-stripping places. Many families were convinced that placing their loved ones in an institution was their only option.

The landmark 1999 Supreme Court Olmstead decision marked the end of institutionalization for many and ushered in a ground-breaking era of community integration. In Tennessee, the three State-run institutions were shuttered in 2013. 2023 marked ten years after the closings.

Houston Vandergriff, a 26-year-old photographer with Down syndrome, was invited to visit all three of the State facilities located in East, Middle, and West Tennessee. All are slated for demolition. Houston’s photographs capture an era of American history that will soon be erased, but hopefully not forgotten.

These photographs share an intimate glimpse into what life was like for institutionalized Americans. Where they were once segregated and isolated, now former residents of these institutions are working to be fully integrated into their communities. Significant changes have been made, but there is still work to be done. After all, change is not the same as progress.