Celebrating Progress In All its Forms

From Adventures of a Bipolar Mom, a post that I think should resonate with everyone.

My little guy will be turning three in less than a month. It amazes me sometimes at how excited I get watching him grow and learn. It was always exciting with my other three children, but this time — it’s just so different.
When my “typical” developing children hit their milestones, it was exciting, but expected. We knew it was coming and exactly what to expect. It was almost boring. We loved all the progress, but I didn’t want to throw a party and call everyone when my kids did the smallest things.
Now, when my little guy does something awesome, I have to call everyone and post it on facebook.

History has not Been Kind to Iowa's Disabled

A fascinating timeline of the history of care for the developmentally disabled in Iowa. It's amazing to see how much things have changed for the better.


Building boom of mental institutions in 1800s
1861: The first patient was admitted to the Iowa Lunatic Asylum in Mount Pleasant.

1867: The Iowa Legislature established the Asylum for Feeble Minded Children in Glenwood. It eventually became the home for thousands of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

1873: A portion of the Iowa Hospital for the Insane in Independence is opened, though it took 10 years for construction of the entire institution to be completed.

1885: The state’s third mental hospital was built in Clarinda to relieve crowding at the first two facilities. It housed only men.