Everybody: An Artifact History of Disability in America

 UAH CHAN AUDITORIUM | FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

Many stories and events related to people with disabilities never make it into the history books or shared public memories. Familiar concepts and events such as citizenship, work, and wars become more complicated, challenge our assumptions about what counts as history, and transform our connection with each other when viewed from the historical perspective of people with disabilities, America’s largest minority. 

Knowing these histories deepens understanding of the American experience and reveals how complicated history really is. The EveryBody presentation is an introduction to the history of disability in America, covering politics, relationships, work, technology, health and more. Just as language about disability has changed (with movement away from stigmatizing terms such as crippled, handicapped, or invalid), so has understanding of it, with civil rights becoming paramount. 

This presentation chronicles the story of disability in America for the past 200 years with information about the Independent Living Movement that started in the 1970’s and culminating in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act 35 years ago. 

This engaging and interesting presentation will be followed by a stimulating discussion afterwards. 

Presented in Huntsville by Disability Resource Network, this presentation is facilitated by Disability Action Center NW, a non-profit Center for Independent Living serving Northern Idaho, Eastern Washington, and run for and by people with disabilities.