In 1972 the NYCLU filed a historic civil rights lawsuit to challenge the inhumane institutional conditions suffered by the residents of the infamous Willowbrook State School. Thirty years later the NYCLU and other advocates still actively monitor the implementation of the remedy that emerged from that case. The NYCLU also engages in advocacy for the development of community-based services as a means to advance civil liberties for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Please explore below to learn about the NYCLU’s work to ensure that all persons receive equal treatment from the government, employers, correctional facilities and educational institutions.