It became known for inhumane conditions and poor treatment of its patients, and became the target of a series of lawsuits prior to its eventual closing in 1992.
[7] As a result of this gross mistreatment, some patients were prone to "moaning in the hallways," "reaching into [their] diapers and spreading whatever [they] found all over, [...] repeatedly banging their heads against the walls,"[6] or any of a number of other responses.
[3] The judge assigned to the case visited the institution without prior warning, witnessing "clogged plumbing, unattended residents drinking out of commodes, and an overwhelming stench of urine and feces.
And there was incessant screaming … a soundtrack of horrible screaming.”[9] Ricci v. Greenblatt was the first lawsuit against a state school, and others followed in Massachusetts for the next few years.
[10] The lawsuit was settled by the judge's requirement of the Commonwealth to provide services and supports to the plaintiff class throughout their lives.
[11] In 1973, the deaths of four patients was investigated by the state and resulted in a report that found evidence of the institution's neglect and insufficient safety protocols.
Ruth Sienkiewicz-Mercer, a disability rights advocate with cerebral palsy, wrote I Raise My Eyes to Say Yes with Steve Kaplan.
[19] One story Vitkus relates is when he refused to take Thorazine, a psychiatric drug often used as a form of chemical restraint.
[21][22] Donald Vitkus passed away in 2018 and in accordance with his wishes, was buried in the graveyard for residents of the Belcherton State School.
"[23] Russell W. Daniels had spent thirteen years of his life at Belchertown State School, when he was released and moved to a transitional program in Springfield in 1971.
[24] Daniels says, of the questioning, "“[The police] didn’t treat me as a human being, that’s for sure...it was pretty scary.”[25] Despite the only evidence of guilt being the signed confession, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
In June 1974, Massachusetts Governor Francis W. Sargent ordered him transferred from the prison back to Belchertown State School on the basis that the confession had been "illegally obtained.
I just want to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”[25] After moving into the community, Daniels became a board member of Open Door Club, a self advocacy group, and worked in dining services at University of Massachusetts.
Ben Ricci wrote a book about his struggle against the inhumane conditions at Belchertown State Schools Crimes Against Humanity.
[29] More recent improvements have been the makeover of Foley Field into a baseball diamond for the local Little League team,[30] and restoration of the overgrown cemetery (with numbers marking the graves) to appear cleaner and properly memorialize dead patients by name.