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Dorothea Dix

Inspired by her social conscience, Dorothea Dix launched a self-financed career aimed at improving the lives of the mentally ill. Her mission to document squalid institutional living conditions and inhumane treatment built public awareness and redefined political thought, leading to better treatment practices. Read more on Dorothea Dix.
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Social issues Dorothea Dix addressed:
•    Improved conditions for people with disabilities
•    Advocacy for marginalized citizens
•    Education

Social issues that need to be addressed today:
•    Disabilities – There are 38,430,187 people 16 years of age and older with disabilities in the U.S.*
•    Poverty – The poverty rate for people 16 years of age and older in the U.S. is 11.8 percent as compared to 21.0 percent for people with disabilities.*
•    Special Education – Nearly 2.9 million students are currently receiving special education services for learning disabilities in the U.S.**
•    Education – 41 percent of fourth-grade boys and 35 percent of fourth-grade girls read below the basic level – in low-income neighborhoods it is near 70 percent – lack of books affects literacy.***

* U.S. Census Bureau, S1802. Disability Characteristics, 2006 American Community Survey, http://factfinder.census.gov/ servlet/STTable?_bm=y&geoid=01000US&qr_name=ACS_2006_ ST_G00_S1802&ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&_lang=en&r edoLog=false&format=&CONTEXT=st
** 24th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2002
*** www.firstbook.org