A blessing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the world today is that the majority of the general population believes in keeping an open mind and their attitude towards disability guided by a tolerant and informed perspective. With the rise of technology, people are more aware than ever. Almost all countries have organizations and laws that allow people with disabilities to lead respectful lives. A meaningful life was not always the case, and the plight of disabled people only began to improve a few decades ago. It has taken people centuries to change their attitude towards the disabled and being a disabled person in the ancient era was perhaps the worst kind of curse.
The oldest historical evidence of the treatment of disabled people dates back to 7000 BC. C. and involved the application of massages, baths, and herbal treatments that attempted to cure intellectual and developmental disabilities. There is also evidence of the use of “magic” in attempts to rid a person of demonic possession. However, between 800 B.C. C. and 400 a. C., the idea of treating people for their disability was mostly abandoned. With little regard for human life, ancient-era cultures found it easier to simply kill anyone born with disabilities rather than try to care for or cure them. Ancient Greek and Roman cultures valued perfection and beauty above all else. As a result, the most torturous malpractices were inflicted on infants, children, and adults with developmental disabilities in these cultures.
Disabilities were neither understood nor tolerated, and even the most revered ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, Aristotle, had commanded, “As to the exposure and rearing of children, let there be a law that no deformed child shall live.” Aristotle’s recommendation led to perhaps one of the most perverse practices towards the disabled: abandoning disabled babies and children out in the cold and letting them die. It is hard to imagine the slow and painful deaths that thousands of babies and children must have suffered. Infanticide was widely carried out in Ancient Greece for decades in light of Aristotle’s decree.
In ancient Rome, disabled people were called a “monstrum” and the birth of a disabled child was considered a bad omen. The Romans were allowed the freedom to sell, insult or kill their disabled children and disabled people often ended up as beggars or in court as a source of amusement and entertainment.
Perhaps the first person to firmly assert that developmental disabilities were not due to evil spirits but were a medical illness that could be cured was the great Greek healer Hippocrates. Later, the Greek physician Sonarus opened the first hospital of its kind, dedicated to treating people with mental and developmental disabilities.
The attitude of the people began to change slowly, but nothing changed it as surely as religion. The rise of Christianity, in particular, taught followers; LUKE 9:48 And he said to them, Whoever welcomes this child in my name, he welcomes me; and whoever receives me, he receives the one who sent me; because the smallest among all of you, that one will be great. (North Dakota).
