The Museum of disABILITY History

The Museum of disABILITY History is a museum related to the history of people with disabilities from medieval times to the present era. Located at 1291 North Forest Road in Williamsville, New York, USA, it is the only "bricks and mortar" museum dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities in the United States. With, and on behalf of, individuals with developmental and other disabilities, the Museum seeks to promote a higher level of societal awareness and understanding, and a change in attitudes, perceptions and actions that will result in people with disabilities having the greatest possible participation in their communities.

History of the museum

People Inc. first organized the idea for the Museum of disABILITY History in 1998 after James Boles, Ed.D President and CEO of People Inc. discovered there was no museum or single education resource to send students to learn about the history of people with disabilities. In 2003, the Museum received its Provisional Charter by the New York State Department of Education Board of Regents and continues to be a project of People Inc.

Collections

The Museum’s exhibits, collections, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery. Photographs, rare books, historic artifacts utilized by people with disabilities, and many primary sources and archival materials, the earliest dating to 1750 are all part of the rapidly growing collection. Included in the Museum’s collection is a 1963 Greaves Thundersley Invacar. Few Invacars exist today in Europe and the only known Invacar in North America is at the Museum of disABILITY History. [ [http://www.virtualgaz.com/invacarpage.htm invacar ] ]

Exhibits

The Museum of disABILITY History offers many on-site, traveling and virtual exhibitions. All exhibits feature various artifacts, unique historical facts, and are presented in an unbiased fashion.

On-site exhibitions

* "The Path to the Institution" portrays the story of the movement toward more specific care for people with disabilities in New York State.
* "Eugenics in America: Perfecting the Population" is an outline of how America sought to genetically remove people with disabilities from society in the early 20th century.
* "disABILITY & Pop-Culture" is an interactive exhibit which promotes an understanding of how people with disabilities were historically and are contemporarily a part of popular culture.
* "Getting Around: Mobility Devices" displays unique artifacts and actual historic mobility devices used by people with physical disabilities.

Traveling exhibitions

The Museum of disABILITY History also offers a “Traveling Exhibit” which is set up at various museums, conventions, and schools throughout New York State. Past exhibitions include:

* "Continuum of Care in Western New York", a pictorial timeline of care for people with developmental and physical disabilities in the Western New York region.
* "What If", an exhibit to promote thinking about what life may have been like for a person with a disability throughout history.
* "Moving Forward-Looking Back", a pictorial history of developmental centers in New York State.

Virtual exhibitions

The Museum of disABILITY History’s web site makes disABILITY history accessible to everyone.

Programs and events

* "The disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series" is hosted by The Museum of disABILITY History each year to educate, inform and raise community awareness in regard to people with disabilities.
* "The Disabilities Awareness Boy Scout Merit Badge" is offered to the Boy Scouts of America in an attempt to not only increase youth’s awareness but also give them a new perspective on the care and treatment of people with disabilities historically and contemporarily.
* "Disability History, Disability Etiquette and Disability Awareness Lectures" are provided by the Museum to various groups and organizations.
* "The Kids on the Block" The Museum of disABILITY History and People Inc. host The Kids on the Block Puppet Troupe which is geared toward third and fourth grade students to help them understand, become aware, and develop sensitivity for people with disabilities.

Publications

The Museum of disABILITY History has completed its first publication entitled, "On the Edge of Town Almshouses in Western New York." Histories of each county almshouse in Western New York are featured in the book along with an overview of historical care and treatment of people with disabilities that resided at those facilities.

References

External links

* [http://www.museumofdisability.org/ Museum of disABILITY History official website ]
* [http://www.people-inc.org/ People Inc. website]
* [http://www.disabilityfilmfest.org/ disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series]
* [http://www.people-inc.org/kidsontheblock/ The Kids on the Block website]