In the early 20th century, feeble-mindedness was a medical diagnosis and legal term of art equivalent to "mental retardation", or developmental disability. And while some of those admmitted to the Exeter School were people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, others were mentally ill, physically impaired, elderly, sick, homeless, or otherwise considered unable to care for themselves. Some were criminals, orphans, and even unwed mothers. Many, in fact, had no disability at all.
Though the words are used in casual conversation today, Idiot, Imbecile, and Moron were once clinical terms, graded on the results of an intelligence test, and used to classify the feeble-minded. Idiots were those with an IQ less than 25, and were apparently people with a disability. Morons, at the opposite end of the scale, were considered much more dangerous; nearly ‘normal’ in intelligence and ability, but incapable of comprehending a concept like morality.
By the middle of the century, hundreds of men, women, and children had been committed to the Exeter School by a judge in civil or criminal court as Defective Delinquents. Oftentimes accused of crimes like waywardness, prostitution, theft, assault, arson, animal cruelty, and child abuse, their detention at the institution was carried out under arrest; until such time it was deemed by authorities they were no longer a danger or burden to themselves or society.
By the time it was called Ladd School, public sentiment toward the institution had already begun to change. Faced with an overcrowding crisis for decades, in 1947 Dr. Ladd discharged almost a third of its population at once, many whom he believed were misdiagnosed, and misplaced. Four years later, the first dormitories for people with profound disabilities were built. In a decade's time, a school and hospital followed, and as the institution’s population changed, what was once called feeble-mindedness was now “mental retardation”.
Though it changed from School to Center, not even reform could undo what early decades had done to shape the institution. Safe conditions and quality of care by modern standards were almost impossible to uphold in a place built on an 18th century model. Many by now believed it was wrong to segregate people because of their disability, and, on the tail of other popular social justice movements, for the first time in state history citizens formed advocacy groups for people with disabilities. It was their determination which would ensure that, before the end of the century, the Ladd Center would be closed for good.