The Museum of disABILITY History is a museum related to the history of people with disabilities from medieval times to the present era. At its premises at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo, New York, US, it was the only "brick-and-mortar" museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to preserving the history of people with disabilities.[1] [2] The bricks-and-mortar museum closed in December 2020,[3] but the museum continued operating as a virtual museum.[4]
The museum states that it 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.
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 from the New York State Department of Education Board of Regents and continues to be a project of People Inc. The museum moved to its current location in late 2010, and received its Permanent Charter from the New York State Board of Regents in January 2011. On December 4, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum announced its permanent closure due to the "lack of adequate dedicated funding."[5]
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, these records have helped shaped the lives of these individuals 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.[6]
The Museum of disABILITY History offered many on-site and traveling exhibitions, with various artifacts, presenting unique historical facts in an unbiased fashion. The building closed in December 2020, and the traveling exhibitions were suspended.[7] Through the use of visual materials, the museum explored the various attitudes beliefs and portrayal of disability that have helped shape the lives of people with disability. Permanent and changing exhibits covered a wide variety of topics related to disability history. Exhibits included historic images of individuals with disabilities, and view of institutions and facilities that were used to care for people with various disabilities throughout history. The aims of the museum are to develop 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. http://www.people-inc.org
After the building was closed in December 2020, the museum continues online as a virtual museum.
The Museum of disABILITY History continues to operate a web site.
Various programs and events were operated before the building closed:
• Kids on the Block of WNY- Kids on the Block is an educational puppet troupe that travels to elementary schools across Western New York promoting disability awareness and the acceptance of differences. The program is internationally acclaimed and the troupe sponsored by the Museum of disABILITY History is one of over 1,700 troupes worldwide.
• New York State Disability History Curriculum K-12- Promoting Disability Awareness and History in classrooms throughout New York State. Lesson Plans, bibliographies, and supplemental materials are located in the Teacher Resources section of the Museum of Disability's website.
• Teacher In-Service programs- Outreach program providing teachers with the tools needed to utilize our lesson plans and Museum exhibits to teach students lessons on Disability History.
• Disability History and Etiquette Program- Outreach program that provides an overview of proper disability etiquette as well as a brief introduction to Disability History.
• Boy Scout Disability Awareness Merit Badge- Merit badge program for scout troops that takes place at the museum.
• Annual Disabilities Film Festival and Speaker Series- The goal is to provide entertainment and information while exploring issues faced by individuals with disabilities. Various films along with prominent speakers will be featured. The programs are intended to educate viewers, offer different perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities to popular culture.
• University at Buffalo Center for Disability Studies- The museum's sponsor, People Inc., recently teamed up with the University at Buffalo to establish the Center for Disability Studies. The purpose of the center is to encourage the study, teaching, and accurate representation of disability history and of individuals with disabilities.[8]
The museum recently started publishing books relating to Disability History in the form of the "Abandoned History" series published by People Inc's "People Ink Press". The Press most recently published Dr. Skinner's Remarkable School for "Colored Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Children" 1857–1860. Upcoming publications topics include: Early human service programs of Niagara County, State School of New York, and a Directory of historically used Disability terminology.
There is also a virtual Disability History Museum, available online only, active,[9] distinct from the Museum of disABILITY History.