Final answer:
Geraldo Rivera visited Willowbrook State School in 1972, exposing the abusive conditions there, which garnered public outcry and eventual reforms. Despite the impact of his reporting, the facility did not close until 1987 after a series of legal actions and transitions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Geraldo Rivera visited the Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, New York in the year 1972. This investigative journalism segment exposed the horrific conditions that the residents, particularly children with intellectual disabilities, lived in. The exposé led to national outrage, reforms in the care of people with disabilities, and eventually resulted in the closure of the institution. Rivera's reporting played a pivotal role in shedding light on the mistreatment at the facility, but the closure did not happen immediately after his visit. It took years and a series of legal battles followed by gradual transfers of residents to smaller community-based living situations before Willowbrook officially closed in 1987. The initial visit by Rivera was a catalyst for change, but not the sole event leading to the closure of Willowbrook.