Our Story

The Willowbrook State School, which was once located on the grounds of the College of Staten Island, was a state-supported institution for people with developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities were abused, starved, and beaten. The institution did not have the capacity to take on as many residents as they did which led to overcrowded spaces, neglect, and overall horrific conditions.

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In 1972, Geraldo Rivera, a television journalist, used a key provided by a staff doctor, and an inside tip to go behind the walls of the Willowbrook State School. Geraldo Rivera exposed the horrendous conditions of the school which then led to the school officially closing in 1987. The significant institutionalization that took place in the Willowbrook State School has brought the developmental disabilities community close together to advocate and ensure that people with developmental disabilities are treated with dignity as human beings.

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The Disability Action Advocates (DAA) formerly known as The Geraldo Rivera Fund for Social Work & Disabilities Studies, also referred to as the GRF, at the CUNY College of Staten Island was established in 2015. Within the DAA, we are committed to fostering equitable change efforts that supports the rights of people with developmental disabilities.

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The DAA planning team meets to plan hosted events and to utilize the resources from the fund, in collaboration with the College of Staten Island Social Work department, to have our Public Conversation Forums and other educational events.