Somebody Waiting

This film documents the barbaric treatment of mentally and physically disabled children at the Developmental Center in Sonoma, CA. It was made at a time when treatment was greatly improving, and wraps up in a very positive fashion. But the early moments of the film are especially hard to watch, as it shows child after child (some only a year or so old) in sickly states of life. These children are skin and bones, and spend every waking hour in minuscule cribs. The narration is dark and blunt, but powerful. School libraries might be the only place to view this, unless you are involved with the modern day Sonoma Devlopmental Center (which is a wonderful place).