Background: The immediate post-world war II era was a critical turning point in the history of learning disability in the United Kingdom and much of the global north. Most notably the gradual move away from institutional provision to a community-oriented approach. While many diverse threads contributed to this change, a key influence was the slow, and incomplete, recognition that institutional provision was not an acceptable option. From the mid 1950s onward a number of commissions and inquiries considered the question of institutions both generally and in response to specific incidents and scandals. This paper traces the history and influence of this early discourse in the third quarter of the 20th century and locates it within the long history of scandals and abuse. Methods: Methods included a review of original documents from the period along with scholarly and grey literature review. Findings and Conclusions: The recurring scandals and public outcry that surrounded the long-stay institutions of this period was a pivotal piece in spurring the move away from institutions towards community care. While significant progress was made deinstitutionalization remains a work in progress and institutions remain remarkably resilient despite a long and consistent history of failure.