Traveling Exhibits
Bring Disability History to You
Explore our current collection of traveling exhibits
African Americans and the Disability Experience
A five-panel banner stand exhibit that highlights the perspective of African Americans in relation to their experience with disability. This exhibit covers the first African slaves brought to colonial America, Brown vs. Board, civil rights, and medical accomplishments.
The Quest for the Cure: Polio in America
A four-panel banner stand exhibit that documents the polio epidemics of the 20th century. The exhibit explores the disease, the ways in which polio changed America, the development of the March of Dimes, and the vaccines developed by Salk and Sabin.
The Kennedy Connection
A four-panel banner stand exhibit that showcases the contributions of the Kennedy family, from the founding of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation to the establishment of the President’s Commission on People with Intellectual Disabilities. It also highlights the work of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Edward M. Kennedy.
In the Game Sports and Disability
A three-panel banner stand timeline style exhibit that chronicles events and individuals who have transformed sport and recreation for people with disabilities. From early educational and habilitation efforts to highly competitive modern amateur and professional activities.
Madness in America A History of Mental Health
A six-panel banner stand display that provides an overview of the history of mental health in the United States. It features the development and expansion of mental institutions, changes in medical care and treatment, and contributions by individuals who were recipients of mental health services.
Reel Life Disability Goes to the Movies
Many motion pictures have been made that have disability themes or actors with disabling conditions. Over the years, actors portraying a character with a disability have increasingly been the recipients of the Academy Award for Best Actor. This three-panel banner stand features several notable and award-winning films and actors from the 1930s to 2010.
Dr. P.H. Skinner
Local Disability Educator, Advocate and Abolitionist: Just before the Civil War, Dr. Platt H. Skinner, a pioneer educator of the disabled, operated three schools for African American children who were blind, deaf or both. The second school was located in Suspension Bridge, New York at the terminus of the Underground Railroad, on which Skinner may have been a conductor. This six-panel set looks at the possible connection between Dr. Skinner and the Underground Railroad as proposed by Dr. Michael Boston.
Little Differences
The Portrayal of Children with Disabilities Throughout History: A six-panel exhibit that examines the depiction of children with disabling conditions in a variety of formats across the ages. Whether they appear in works of fine art, literature, media campaigns or in popular culture, these children were intended to rouse the audience to action. “Little Differences” is an opportunity to assess perceptions of disability through the prism of historical imagery.
War & Disability
This five-panel exhibit looks at the American military and disability experience from the Revolutionary War to present times.
Lives Left Behind – Personal Profiles
A comprehensive fourteen-panel exhibit that uncovers the forgotten stories of former patients at the Willard Psychiatric Center in New York. When the facility closed in 1995, hundreds of suitcases were discovered in its attic—each one filled with deeply personal items left behind by those who once called Willard home. This exhibit reveals the rich inner lives of individuals who entered the institution, many of whom never left and offers a poignant exploration of identity, memory, and humanity through the intimate belongings they packed for their residency at Willard.
Continuum of Care
A four-panel exhibit that traces the evolution of human service agencies across Western New York. More than a historical timeline, this display highlights the individuals and grassroots movements—whether faith-based, civic, or parent-led—that built organizations to meet the needs of their communities. It celebrates the legacy of compassion, determination, and vision that shaped a system of support designed to ensure meaningful, connected lives for all.
Borrow a traveling exhibit
Traveling Exhibit Loan Fees/Insurance Requirements
There is a flat fee of $500 to rent an exhibit. Packing, shipping and insurance costs are to be paid by the borrower. Borrowing institutions must provide insurance coverage of $800 per panel.
Testimonial
“Borrowing an exhibit from the Disability History Museum was a great way to enhance our Disability Pride Month celebration. We were able to share the exhibit at a busy community center, which provided visitors the option to learn and explore during their visit. It made a huge impact with community members!”
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Museum of Disability History at The Viscardi Center
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