From oppression and neglect to justice and rights…the story of disability in America.
Background
An organizing committee (Friends of NMDHC) has been meeting since 2019 to establish a National Museum of Disability History and Culture. The committee has drafted a bill that will be introduced in Congress; is establishing a cross-disability, diverse steering committee; and is seeking funds.
One page draft bill (PDF) regarding legislation to establish a commission to study the museum concept.
Join Us in a Dream: A National Museum of Disability History and Culture, National Council on Public History, by Henry Kennedy and Nathan Stenberg, June 14, 2022
It’s Time for a National Museum of Disability, New York Times, by Elianna Gerut, Sarah Levin, Daniel Rabinovitz, Gabe Rosen and Ben Schwartz, September 5, 2018
Take Action
- Encourage your US Representative to co-sponsor a bill to establish a commission.
- Endorse the Bill to Establish a Commission on a National Museum of Disability History and Culture by filling out the contact form below. See endorsements by other organizations.
- Subscribe to the monthly Disability History & Culture Collective e-newsletter (see past issues of the newsletter).
Mission Statement
The National Museum of Disability History and Culture contributes to the movement toward disability justice by recognizing and celebrating the contributions of a diversity of people with disabilities to our nation’s political, social and cultural life. Its mission is to research, uncover, preserve and present the history and culture of people with disabilities from dehumanization, discrimination and institutionalization to the movement for civil liberties, justice, equality, participation, and artistic representation.
Vision
The museum is a “living museum” in the sense that it is always evolving to document the continuing work of disability rights and justice, as well as the rich intellectual, cultural, and artistic work of people with disabilities.
The museum strives to challenge the prevailing beliefs and attitudes of the general public to move from pity and stigma to understanding of the critical contributions disabled people have made in our society, especially those contributions that have been ignored or repressed.
Values
The museum will include the contributions of people with all types of disabilities and from all ethnicities, sexual orientations, economic classes, faiths, and generations, highlighting intersectionality – the struggles of people who are both disabled and part of other historically marginalized communities.
The museum will use universal design and hold accessibility in the highest of priorities.
The most negative and positive aspects of disability history are presented with respect and accuracy.
Get Involved
If you are interested in supporting the National Museum of Disability History and Culture, please fill out this contact form:
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Endorsements
- 2Gether-International
- About Disability
- AHEAD
- All Things Disability
- Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education (ADHCE)
- American Association of Multisensory Environments (AAMSE)
- American Association on Health and Disability
- American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
- ANCOR
- Arc of the US
- Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
- Autism Society of America
- Blind Institute of Technology
- California Museum
- Center for Outcome Analysis, a disability advocacy and social science
- Council on Quality Leadership
- Disability Belongs
- Disability History Museum
- Disability Social History Project
- Easterseals National
- Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC)
- National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD)
- National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services (NASDDDS)
- National Disability Association
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
- Pennhurst Memorial & Preservation Alliance
- Pennsylvania Historical Association
- ProFound
- Samaritan Partners
- Special Olympics
- Spina Bifida Association
- TASH
- TestParty
- TSC Alliance
- United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD)
- Wood System of Care