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 Updated: 6/24/2013 
The Museum of disABILITY History
Buffalo, New York
Description

The Museum of disABILITY History is the only "bricks and mortar" museum of its kind in the United States. It is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts pertaining to the history of people with disabilities.

The museum offers educational exhibits and activities that broaden the community's awareness of an often overlooked, yet vital part of our history.

Mission

The Museum of disABILITY History is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance, and independence of people with disabilities.

History

Established in 1998 by Dr. James M. Boles, president and CEO of People Inc. (a non-profit human services agency that provides a variety of services to people with disabilities), the Museum of disABILITY History has steadily expanded over the years and, in late 2010, moved to a spacious new building in Buffalo, New York.

Permanent Exhibitions
Throughout History

A brief introduction to Disability History: “As long as there have been people, there have been people with disabilities.”

Almshouses and Schools

Explores the evolution of care for people with disabilities and the development of early poorhouses, almshouses and schools.

The Path to the Institution

Examines the establishment of early state schools and institutions in New York.

Eugenics in America

A look at the history of "eugenics," including negative and positive eugenics.

Pop Culture

A look at the role of disability in popular culture.

Sports and Disabilities

A look at the participation of people with disabilities in sports and recreation--as well as the development of adaptive sports.

The Evolution of Adaptive Equipment

Explores the history and development of mobility aids and adaptive equipment.

The Invacar Exhibit

The Invacar, a three-wheeled carriage powered by a motorcycle-type engine, was made in Britain from 1948–1977. Our collection features a fully-restored 1963 Greeves Thundersley Invacar.

Artifact Collections

A wide variety of objects and items related to the history of disability.

Research Collections

Our museum library and archives feature an extensive collection of items--including: books, manuscripts, periodicals, documents, bound volumes, disbound articles, and many other print materials. Electronic media includes records, videos, DVDs, 35mm films, reel-to-reel audio tapes, and more!

Programs

The Museum of disABILITY History offers educational outreach programs to schools, universities, and the general public--in an effort to create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery.

Kids on the Block of WNY

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! Find out more at http://www.kidsontheblockwny.org/.

kNOw bullying!

In accordance with New York State's "Dignity for all Students Act," all schools are now required to take action to prevent discrimination and harassment of all students, report any bullying incidents, and enforce consequences for bullying behavior. The kNOw Bullying program incorporates a skit presented by the "Kids on the Block" puppeteers in addition to a group discussion and presentation providing students with examples of what constitutes bullying, suggestions for how to become a "Stand-Byer" as opposed to a Bystander, and how to protect themselves from becoming a victim of bullying. This program also includes hand-outs for teachers/parents/students to use as resources following the presentation.

Miscellaneous

The Museum of disABILITY History also offers traveling exhibits, a docent program, and guided tours. Traveling exhibits are available to rent at a rate of $100 per week + insured shipping. Guided tours are available for $25. For more information, please contact our museum at (716)-629-3626.

A detailed list of our Traveling Exhibits can be found here: http://museumofdisability.org/exhibits/traveling-exhibits/
Facilities

The Museum of disABILITY History is located on the first floor of a beautiful, two-story brick building--dating back to 1932--that was previously utilized as a fire hall by the Eggertsville Hose Company.

The second floor of the building contains People Inc.'s "Training Center for Human Service Excellence."

Performance Areas
Governance

A project of People Inc., the Museum of disABILITY History is chartered by the New York State Department of Education Board of Regents, and is governed by its own Board of Directors.

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: True

Services

We have several rooms that are available for the scheduling of meetings. Contact us at 716-629-3626 to reserve a room.

Welcome to our store.

After you tour our museum, please stop in and see our many special and unique gifts. From housewares to apparel, our store features many Peoplemade items lovingly handmade by individuals from our dayhab centers. You can also find us on facebook or at http://store.museumofdisability.org/.

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours
Address
3826 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14226
phone: 716-629-3626
home page: museumofdisability.org/
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Hours of Operation
Monday - Saturday10 AM - 4 PM
Museum Type(s)
Culture
History
Library
Specialized
Staff
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Athens, Ohio

Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosted by: North Carolina Museums Council

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.

By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day

The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.

The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.

For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

April 5 - 8, 2025

Ithaca, New York

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

Saturday, April 5 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Ithaca Downtown Conference Center

Ithaca, New York

Hosted by: Museum Association of New York

Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Ou

Who are the members of our communities? How can we evaluate our internal structures to help us better understand our organization, define our audiences, and serve our communities? How do we bring all communities together to support our field? How can we support and develop our internal community of staff, volunteers, and board members? How can we advocate for funding that meets operational capacity needs and includes equitable staff support? What changes do we need to make to prioritize the health and well-being of our museum workforce that will support the longevity and sustainability of our institutions and strengthen our ability to build meaningful community relationships

MANY presents conference sessions, workshops, panel discussions, facilitated discussions, and peer-to-peer learning experiences focusing on our 2025 conference theme, Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Out. We will be gathering in Ithaca, in the Southern Tier Region of our state, located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ (the Cayuga Nation)

MANY’s annual conference helps museum professionals build a network to share perspectives, tools, and skills that develop excellence across the field. Our goal is to nurture a community of practice, advance institutional change, and create an inclusive and expansive New York team of collaborators who learn together.

view all conferences
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